To compete and thrive in the 21st century, democracies, and the United States in particular, must develop new national security and economic strategies that address the geopolitics of information. In the 20th century, market capitalist democracies geared infrastructure, energy, trade, and even social policy to protect and advance that era’s key source of power—manufacturing. In this century, democracies must better account for information geopolitics across all dimensions of domestic policy and national strategy.
Biography
During the course of his military career, Ltg. Gen. (Ret.) Sean B. MacFarland served in armor and cavalry units at every echelon from a cavalry platoon of 42 Troopers to an armored corps of over 100,000 Soldiers. He spent 14 years in Germany and has been deployed multiple times to the Balkans, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
As a brigade commander in Ramadi, Iraq, he is credited with fostering the Sunni Arab “Awakening” movement, which was instrumental turning the tide of the war. While commanding the war in Iraq and Syria against ISIS, coalition forces seized the initiative, recaptured over 40% of the enemy’s territory, and set the conditions for its final defeat.
LTG MacFarland is a 1981 graduate of the United States Military Academy, the Command and General Staff College, the School of Advanced Military Studies, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (Eisenhower School). He also earned a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. His awards include the Combat Action Badge, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three Distinguished Service Medals, two Defense Superior Service Medals, two Legions of Merit and two Bronze Stars. In 2016, Time Magazine listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Last Updated: Jan 27, 2020, 5:05pm