Page 8 - JDPA Volume 02, Issue 02

Journal of Defence & Policy Analysis Volume 02, Issue 02, December 2023

PREFACE

The contemporary era in which information disseminates unceasingly across
boarders, Disinformation has gained its prominence among policymakers, strat-
egists, and scholars around the world. Addressing this multidimensional chal-
lenge of both Disinformation and Misinformation requires a collaborative and
comprehensive approach, one that integrates insights from different domains
which includes political economy, strategic relations and social engineering. The
Faculty of Defense and Strategic Studies and the Center for Strategic Assessment
at the Kotelawala Defence University organized a seminar focused on “Respond-
ing to Disinformation and Building Disinformation Resilience on the 14th of De-
cember 2023”.

This event which was held at the Faculty of Defense Studies at KDU, gathered
an array of distinguished national and international personalities, aiming to
scrutinize the complexities and utilize strategies to counter Disinformation. The
seminar commenced with the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs; honorable
MUM Ali Sabry PC MP, whose keynote address highlighted the cruciality of ad-
dressing disinformation within the realm of strategic and international relations.

The event was structed under three thematic sessions: “Strategic & International
Relations,” “Political Economic & Legal,” and “Social Engineering & Operation-
al Challenges.” Each session was enriched by the active contribution made by
experts, including Mr. Nitin A Gokhale, Mr. ULM Jauhar, and Ms. Norashikin
Sahol Hamid, among others.The collaborative nature of this seminar facilitated
dynamic discourse and brainstorming sessions and their valuable and diverse
perspectives addressed the complexities of disinformation, fostering a holistic
comprehension of the challenges and opportunities within the contemporary
information landscape. These discussions underscored the complex interplay
between Disinformation and and global strategic dynamics, political and legal
frameworks, and social engineering practices.

This special edition of the Journal of Defense Policy complies the proceedings and
insights from the seminar, offering a rich collection of knowledge and strategies
important for policymakers, scholars and practitioners involved in countering
Disinformation.The absence of a unified format in this compilation is intention-
al, maintaining the originality and authority of each author. We believe this ap-
proach strengthens the authenticity and effectiveness of the shared knowledge.

As we examine the contents of this journal, it is our hope that the knowledge and
collaborative discourse facilitated within will inspire and equip readers to build
robust defenses against the conducive platforms for the spread of both Disinfor-
mation and Misinformation.

Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
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