Speaker: Mike O’Shea
When: Wednesday, 15:00
The revolutionary technological developments of microprocessors, the internet, smart devices, social media etc. have resulted in what has been termed the democratization of connectivity, information and technology (DCIT). Democratization in this context being defined as an increased level of accessibility and a availability to an ever-growing number of people across the globe. As can be imagined DCIT has and continues to significantly affect many aspects of life. Within the context of conflict, be it the Great Powers Competition between States, or the the rise of non-state and violent non-state actors such as Guerilla, Revolutionary and Insurgent Movements (GRIMs), DCIT has contributed to evolution and innovations in conflicts and struggles globally. From a revolutionary perspective DCIT has opened up vast new possibities for movements to struggle against the centralized, hegemonic state and power system. When combined with a strong ideological compass, purpose along with unity and belief, smaller actors have been able to recognize the impact of DCIT resulting in innovations that have not only challenged and rivaled a relatively superior force but in some case developed systems and tactics that have surpassed those of the State, despite their monolithic defense and military industrial complexes. It is evident that the affect that DCIT has had on the development of the intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and military technology of non-state actors, especially GRIMS. By understanding DCIT, along with the highly detailed, well-funded, empirical research of the State on Unconventional Warfare (UW), Irregular Warfare (IW) and everything in between (Information, Influence, Intelligence Operations) along with its dissection of virtually every single modern GRIM combined with examples of powerful, “game-changing” innovations in conflicts from Libya, Iraq, Greater Kurdistan, Syria to Ukraine, it is possible to bring our own unique perspectives, experiences, challenges and struggles into the equation and to individually and collectively “plug in” to this phenomenon to develop an entirely new way of revolutionary struggle.