[HDIACAdmin]

Welcome to the Cultural Studies Forum. This is an open area to discuss topics and share knowledge related to the Cultural Studies technical focus area. Users can start a new topic or reply to those already created.

Note: Only group members can respond to topics.

Topic

[dschumann]

So, am interested in this new group, and wondering what the intent is behind the Cultural Studies technical focus area.

A bit about myself:

Retired US Army LTC and civilian ethnographer with an M.A. from Boston U. and a B.A. from Iowa State, currently working as a contractor overseas. My background includes developing Cultural data in Afghanistan, Syria, Africa, Eastern Europe, as well as limited experience in Central and South America.

I am split between active interest in how Cultural Studies could be used for Homeland Defense and a certain morbid fear of how it could be misused against so-called “domestic threats”.

Anyway, thanks for the invite and for setting this up.

Drew Schumann

[marakiernan]

Appreciate the thoughtful question, Drew. The use of Cultural Studies in this context is cultural and sociological analysis – research into the ideology, political and economic nature of a culture in order to better understand its people and government for national security purposes.

Much of the HDIAC’s work in this area focuses on the intersection of culture and DoD operations. A great example of what this looks like can be found in the journal article linked below, which examines the value of Human Terrain Teams in aiding DoD operations in Iraq:

Army Social Science Lessons for Homeland Defense Planning and Operations

Along similar lines, the HDIAC is currently working with Syracuse University on a set of Cultural Studies podcasts, which will examine how the varying cultural complexities of the DoD, humanitarian groups, and local populations interacted to impact operations in Afghanistan. The first installment is slated to be announced in January, and will be a great example of the type of analysis and information that the HDIAC looks to make available in the Cultural Studies technical focus area.

[dschumann]

I’m quite familiar with HTS, and with its successes and failures in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

I reserve my comments on this article for a separate subject.

[SREDIFER]

Drew,
Steve Redifer here – HDIAC Director and retired Marine O6 (my last life). We would be most interested in hearing your thoughts/comments. I appreciate your participation in this forum, and the hope is to inspire conversation among our users.

Other options that may appeal to you include drafting a Journal article on the topic or perhaps presenting a webinar – real world experience is always a plus in my opinion.

Finally, if you have not done so already, consider becoming an HDIAC SME – you can find that link under the Services tab at the top of this page.

Again, thanks for the discussion – please keep it coming!

[dschumann]

I believe I signed up to become an HDIAC SME back in 2015 or so, but nothing came of it.

Am interested in what renewed interest may come of this.

[dplante]

Hi Drew.

I checked our database but didn’t find anything showing that you applied in 2015. Our company took over operation of the HDIAC just a few months ago, and as part of growing the SME network under our operations I’d certainly encourage you to apply again. You just need to start out at the Services tab at the top of the screen, or send an email to info@hdiac.org and I can send you the new SME application that we are using.

thank you,
Dirk

[Author]

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