Information analysis and strategic communication specialist: security and hybrid threats

Presentation

The combination of coercive, manipulative, and persuasive instruments, both conventional and unconventional, by state and non-state actors is characteristic of so-called hybrid and asymmetric threats. Furthermore, in the current global security landscape, communication plays a fundamental role as a dimension of the political-strategic environment, making it essential to develop profiles capable of analyzing and assessing, detecting, and neutralizing hostile political influence campaigns that target Western societies.

The development of profiles with knowledge and skills is key to the multidimensional analysis of these threats, the detection of hybrid influence campaigns, and the planning of effective responses, where the development of intelligence capabilities and strategic communication activities are fundamental.

State and non-state actors involved are adapting traditional forms of communication to an increasingly complex information and communication system where the abundance of information generated by traditional and new media has led to an increase in disinformation, manipulation, and propaganda.

The title of "Specialist in Information Analysis and Strategic Communication: Security and Hybrid Threats" aims to provide the knowledge and capabilities necessary to understand, analyze and respond to hybrid threats, disinformation and information manipulation and foreign interference from the perspective of communication, security and intelligence studies.

Objectives

Just like main goal The Specialist pursues the development of profiles with knowledge and skills for the multidimensional analysis of hybrid threats, the detection of hostile influence and interference campaigns, and the planning of effective responses, where the development of analytical, intelligence, and strategic communication capabilities are essential.

Just like specific training objectives and in line with the subjects developed throughout these studies, the proposed title seeks to:

• To provide an understanding of the hybrid threat phenomenon from a holistic and process-based perspective within the context of international security.
• To familiarize students with the different environments in which hybrid threats operate, with a special focus on cyberspace, as well as the existing response and prevention tools and policies against cyberthreats. 
• To provide students with the specific skills and training in intelligence analysis to identify and assess these threats, including the early identification of latent threats and technological trends that may contribute to their development or serve to mitigate them.
• To improve students' ability to identify and analyze foreign media manipulation and interference campaigns and assess their impact on democratic processes.
• Provide specific guidance for planning, designing, and implementing strategic communications campaigns and developing effective counternarratives to address these threats.
• Understand, through the use of scenarios, simulations, and war games, how hybrid threats operate and, through them, train informed decision-making.