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Policy Brief

Lessons from History for Counter-Terrorism Strategic Communications

20 Jun 2016

Drawing on the Counter-terrorism Strategic Communication (CTSC) Project’s research paper "A Brief History of Propaganda during Conflict", this Policy Brief lays out the key policy-relevant lessons for developing effective counter-terrorism strategic communications. It presents a framework of interrelated macro-, mezzo- and micro-level considerations for maximizing the efficacy of not just a strategic communications campaign but message design. Historical examples are drawn upon to illustrate their practical application. The Policy Brief concludes by analysing four key strategic-policy principles arguing that a counter-terrorism strategic communications campaign is more likely to be successful if it is based on the cumulative effects of a multidimensional messaging strategy.

Strategic Policy Principles


Read the Policy Brief.


How to cite: Ingram, H. J. and A. Reed. “Lessons from History for Counter-Terrorism Strategic Communications”, The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague 7, no. 4 (2016).

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.19165/2016.2.04