384 Revista del Instituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos Núm. 2 / 2013 In the month after General McChrystal delivered his document64 NATO approved the STRATCOM Policy65. This grouped public diplomacy, public military affairs, IO and psychological operations? The objective was to use the communication assets to inform the public, maintain public support of the missions, activities and objectives of that institution. The definition of NATO’s strategic communication is generic and it establishes the coordination between different interrelated departments working together as information and psychological operations. This only takes place within the theater of operations and are intended for the public of countries which are non-members and public affairs that is responsible for imparting public information to member countries. “The coordinated and appropriate use of NATO communications activities and capabilities – Public Diplomacy, Public Affairs, Military Public Affairs, Information Operations and Psychological Operations, as appropriate –in support of the Alliance policies, opera-tions and activities, and in order to advance NATO’s aims”.66 Strategic communication is not an easy concept to define. There is no consensus on what it consists of is really.67 In the ten years that it is under study, the definitions are quite different; although you can detect some common elements that one can finally relate them. Christopher Paul, in his book Strategic Communication, has posted up to six officers and 14 definitions that could be considered “unofficial”. Christopher Paul, in his book Strategic Communication, has posted up to six official definitions and 14 definitions that can be considered “unofficial”.68 Below one can see some of the most significant definitions: “Is the promotion of national interests through efforts to inform, engage, and influence 64 NATO ISAF COMMANDER, Comisaf ’s Initial Assessment. 30th of August 2009. 65 For a detailed study of the concept of NATO’s strategic communication, it is interested to con-sult these following references: • NATO Strategic Communications Policy, MCM-0164-2009, 29 Sep 2009 • Military Concept for NATO Strategic Communications, MCM-0085-2010, 11 Aug 2010 • NATO Strategic Communications Capability Implementation Plan, 20 Apr 2011 • NATO ACO Strategic Communications directive, AD 95-2, 19 Nov 2009 66 PANIZZI, M. “The Development of NATO Strategic Communications: from Public Affairs to a broader Communications Policy”, in Three Swords, Joint Warfare Centre, OTAN, Autumn/Winter 2011, nº 21. 67 POVEL, E. “Strategic Communications in NATO. A Work in Progress”, in Three Swords, Joint Warfare Centre, OTAN, Autumn/Winter 2011, nº 21. 68 PAUL, C. Strategic communication: Origins, concepts, and current debates. Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2011, pp.185-191.
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