ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates information operations (IO) as a part of international peace and security. In both common parlance and scientific discourse, the term IO has been used to refer to a wide range of activities. A concept closely related to IO is that of psychological operations. The national security strategies of the United States and the security doctrines of the Russian Federation employ the language of realism when addressing information security. As institutions and phenomena are socially constructed, IO can be seen as a social construct. Affecting decision-making requires detailed and comprehensive knowledge about the adversary’s information-gathering system, decision-making processes, and beliefs. In addition to deterrence, IO can be employed to start a war or military operation. The discourse of IO and information warfare – as well as ‘cyber war’ – has been seen to erode the line between war and peace.
