Case Studies on UN Information Operations: Ethiopia, Liberia, and Kosovo.

摘要

Over the past 10 years, the demand for United Nations (UN) Information Operations (IO) has grown, with the UN initiating or strengthening 17 peacekeeping operations and increasing the number of deployed UN personnel. Given the growing demand for UN peacekeeping, we will examine, assess, and make recommendations for increasing UN IO effectiveness during peacekeeping (IODP). This thesis will focus on UN IODP using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in a post- conflict situation. The following questions are addressed: What is more important, the IO message or the information system; Is a successful system sufficient for IO success; What is the information hierarchy; What impact does the information hierarchy have on peacekeeping operations; Who should deliver the message; How should the message be delivered; What is the structure for evaluating UN IODP; When, where, and how has the UN succeeded in utilizing IODP in missions; Where has it failed and what were the IO issues it faced; How can the UN and member countries better utilize IO; How can the UN utilize the information hierarchy to garner public support in post-conflict environments; How can the UN counter competing information; How do you manage expectations in a post-conflict situation; and Are the tools used by the UN for managing expectations during peacekeeping operations effective. Specifically, in this thesis, we examine the following: (1) the evolution of UN IODP over the past decade; (2) the characteristics of ongoing IODP in case studies from Kosovo, Liberia, and Eritrea-Ethiopia; (3) the current structure for evaluating UN IODP and the challenges, if any, the current structure poses, specifically in the previously mentioned cases; and (4) countering disinformation efforts in IODP.