POST: The Pernicious Myth of "Human Nature", Democratic Core, September 21, 2008
A very interesting post about Kagan's latest book, which I didn't like either, as much as I enjoy his writing and owe him a great debt of gratitude for writing Dangerous Nation, the inspiration, in many ways, for Great Powers.
The post simply reaffirms the reality that, like him or not, Kagan must be read, if for no other reason that to learn from the clarity of his writing.
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Comments (1)
It is still easier to mobilize and motivate people to rebellion or defensive conflict using fear, anxiety and cultural bias.... rather than rational love and loyalty, outreach, and insight on collective interests.
However, that second approach is then needed to pick up the pieces and build some kind of useful and durable relationship.
Wilson and FDR faced situations where they had to exploit the first situation, and still lay groundwork for second. We might cringe at their crude information warfare methods used in dealing with the first situation, but they got quicker action.
We have had almost a century to learn how to better use better information warfare methods to exploit human nature's rough edges to get the bad guys of our time, and the buds on our side, to act in ways that improve prospects of conflict success.
It is less clear whether our insights have prepared us to use the techniques of information warfare in political, economic, cultural type uses to prepare and for constructive phase two efforts.
It is said that America had no ideas, let alone plans, for dealing with Russia when the Cold War/Containment era succeeded/ended. Golly Gee!
So, it's not 'either/or.' And it's likely to be more than 'both/and.'
Posted by Louis Heberlein | November 4, 2008 1:04 PM