War in 140 characters : how social media is reshaping conflict in the twenty-first century

Summary: "Journalist David Patrikarakos has reported on war zones from the Congo to Ukraine. Yet, it has become increasingly apparent that simultaneous battles are now being waged on social media platforms-- and this virtual warfare is only gaining in importance, becoming every bit as real and often more significant than the fighting on the ground. The traditional concept of war as a clear, military battle between two identifiable parties is dying, if not already dead. Instead, war is a clash of narratives, and the line between conflict and politics has become so blurred as to be almost indistinguishable. War in 140 Characters explores how social media has expanded the arena of conflict into the virtual world. Using his unprecedented access to key players, Patrikarakos brings the characters that are shaping modern warfare to vivid light. State militaries now employ social media warriors to influence the narrative online; paid Russian trolls flood the internet with tweets to create a sense of 'authentic' support for the annexation of Crimea; ISIL recruits via Skype; private civilians can single-handedly take on the world's major powers using the extraordinary capabilities of open-source social media platforms. Whether you are a president or a terrorist, if you don't understand how to deploy the power of media effectively, you may win the odd battle, but you will lose a twenty-first-century war. War in 140 Characters provides an essential new narrative for modern warfare, exploring how social media has transformed the way that we fight, win, and consume wars, and what that means for the world going forward."--Dust jacket flaps.