Culture, Identity and Information Technology in the 21st Century: Implications for U.S. National Security, the Future of English in Language Usage, Demographic Shifts

This monograph traces global trends in the use of language and media in order to identify the national security implications of cultural change and identity formation. The analysis suggests that in the next several decades, the world is likely to be more ideologically fragmented than at any time during the 20th century. In such a context, not only will the ability of the United States to push back against other rising "centers of influence" be comparatively reduced; other rising powers themselves are unlikely to be able to wield the same forms of influence that shaped international politics in the 20th century. Instead, a sociological perspective on these global trends is offered, suggesting that the emergent norms of future generations will challenge existing legal frameworks and bureaucratic methods that states have until now relied on to manage and provide secrecy and security. At the same time, the influx of digital "immigrants" from the developing world to the information domain will indelibly shape the information society as we know it today. For the first time, "cultural engagement" will no longer be an experience that exclusively happens in "far-off" lands, as the global expansion of the information society enables the beliefs and values of foreign societies to impact our day-to-day lives more frequently and more directly.

Ultimately, the monograph makes a compelling case for policymakers to attend to the strategic implications of cultural change and to reach beyond state-centric approaches in security studies in order to do so. The Strategic Studies Institute is pleased to offer this monograph as a contribution that enriches our understanding of the future security environment and furthers policy debate on U.S. national security and defense strategy.