Procedure and Principles of Information and Psychological Operations in the North-Atlantic Alliance (Based on NATO Documents)

Abstract

The article contains systematic principles, features and procedures for conducting information and psychological operations in NATO countries. The concepts of information operation (IO), psychological (information-psychological) operations (PSYOPS), strategic communications are defined, as well as their differences and functional relationships in the context of Ukrainian national perception of these processes. The following basic principles of IO and PSYOPS are highlighted and explained: truthfulness, consequentiality, consistency, coordination, understanding, timeliness and efficiency, evaluation, responsibility. The following features of the IO and PSYOPS are identified and explained: interaction with other units and components of the military operation, operational planning, targeting, operation evaluation, target evaluation. The process of coordination, planning and organization of information activities is described, as well as their differences in the prism of the domestic experience of information and psychological activities.