Information operations: an old concept with a new paradigm

Abstract

The Information Age emerges as a fundamental element for the characterization of the current world conjuncture. Information management in state security and defense has become vital to its very existence and sovereignty. The modern battlefield environment is increasingly discontinuous, asymmetric and multidimensional, which contributes to the complexity of the information environment, formerly situated in its traditional area of ​​interest.
Paradoxically, very little has been studied on the subject in Brazil. So-called Global Actors began discussing the Information War in the 1990s of the last century. Since then, the Information Operations doctrine has undergone modifications and adaptations aimed at meeting the specific needs of each actor or Armed Force, many of which are directly linked to the degree of technological development that has been achieved at any given time. This factor made a significant contribution to the difficulty of consensus among the different doctrines, even among the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
This article has the primary purpose of establishing the initial parameters for the conceptualization and discussion of the doctrine of Information Operations (Op Info) in the Brazilian Army.