Contemporary theatres of operation, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, have delineated the requirement for a reformation in intelligence focus

                         that incorporates socio-cultural knowledge

                                          to meet the challenges presented by changing    

                                                     adversaries and operating environments

Although the military has become intimately familiar with the integral importance of cultural knowledge to current operations, there is limited depth thereafter to understand what socio-cultural knowledge is, how it is developed, and where it can be applied.

The aim of this project is to implement concepts, theories, and methodologies unique to the academic discipline of socio-cultural anthropology to define a Cultural Intelligence discipline that can support contemporary military operations such as peacebuilding, nationbuilding, and counterinsurgency, by closing the cultural knowledge gap.

Research Objectives

            Define Cultural Intelligence theory through the integration of socio-cultural

            anthropology into the Intelligence Cycle as the collection and analytical authority on

            cultural information.

            Define cultural information requirements that holistically map human terrain in

            support of effective Intelligence Preparation of the Operating Environment (IPOE).

            Demonstrate the utility of cultural knowledge at all levels of operation – strategic,

            operational, and tactical – as well as how cultural information can be processed into

            Cultural Intelligence products to advise/influence decisions made through the

            Operational Planning Process (OPP) by commanders on the battlefield.

Research Goals

The goals of developing a Cultural Intelligence capacity are to:

            Defeat ethnocentric bias in intelligence analysis through understanding the values,

            customs, perceptions, and attitudes of the local population our forces operate

            amongst.

            Effectively map human terrain to uncover social issues affecting conflict resolution

            and social development.

            Develop a level of ‘cultural predictability’ through the production of holistic and

            detailed ethnographic products.

The intent of these goals is to arm commanders and intelligence staffs with new terminology and concepts to improve the common operating picture, improve communication and rapport with local communities, and successfully counter an insurgency.

The ability to point commanders to proper centres of gravity through accurate intelligence will inevitably improve operational planning resulting in increased chances of victory, timelier resolution, and minimized loss of resources, both monetary and human.