Here some notes to help me clarify my own thinking. The notes may be useful to others as well.
As always, I appreciate any comments, questions, corrections, additions…feedback of any sort.
5GW is the secret deliberative manipulation of actors, networks, institutions, states or any 0GW/1GW/2GW/3GW/4GW forces to achieve a goal or set of goals across a combination of socio, economic, and political domains while attempting to avoid or minimize the retaliatory offensive or defensive actions/reactions of 0GW/1GW/2GW/3GW/4GW powered actors, networks, institutions, and/or states.
WHO
- Puppetmaster 5GWers
- Socio-Political Entrepreneur 5GWers
- Strategic Citizens 5GWers
- 5GW Insurgents
- State-within 5GWers
- State-without 5GWers
- 5GW inclined Super-Empowered Individuals
WHAT
- Nudge Behavior
- Constrain Activity
- Define Rules
- Co-Opt Networks
- Spread Memes
- Selectively Kill
- Lawfare (examples)
- Open-Source Espionage
WHERE
- Across any combination of the socio, economic, and political domains of human interaction
- Dimensions of War: physical, moral, mental, and institutional
- CyberSpace? (for a future post)
WHEN
WHY
- To achieve or increase the probability of achieving a goal against (or for) an otherwise unwilling target
- To wage war with inferior power or resources compared to the target
- To avoid counter-activity by the target (aka increased 5GWer survivability)
- “…an outcome which is lasting, i.e. a strong and resilient system, and this would also require that those living within any newly created or newly modified system consciously or unconsciously continue to maintain that system — rather than consciously or unconsciously form groups to bring it down.” [Source: CGW]
- Love?
HOW
- Quietly/Stealthily
- Rely upon N-Order effects
- Use Leverage Factors
- Secretly/Anonymously
- Slowly/Patiently
- Incrementally
- Strategic Attrition
ALTERNATE NAMES
- Secretwar
- Hiddenwar
- Stealthwar
- Otherwar
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Note: The unofficial 5GW Theory Song
Update: Corrected some typos. Added an idea from here by CGW.
Additional minor updates on and after 8/1/2010
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The Kindle version of the Dr. TDAXP edited Handbook of 5GW has been released!
The Dreaming 5GW website might be defunct, but the 5GW Theory Timeline(extracted from the group the blog) is available here. Dreaming 5GW is alive again.
RIP It Lives?
