Future Shocking

If the byword of past warfare was destruction, usually total, the byword of future warfare might be disruption. That is to say, less the total elimination of an undesirable opponent and its transformation by shaping action into either a non-factor or a desirable partner. Much has been made of the organized force end of society, military, security and elsewhere, to do so by smart weapons, large computer arrays and so forth.

Less has been made of how private citizens have the means to astonishing ends through smart phones, networked computers and other resources. Powerful means exist to disrupt organizational functions, both governmental and private, organize mass movements and track and digest vast amounts of information. Such capabilities will enable smaller and smaller groups to effect astonishing and frightening effects on their societies in the future, as the capability to wage warfare moves from large institutions, to smaller, less centralized, more informal bodies that will be more autonomous and self-directed.