A comunicação estratégica como instrumento de smart power na segunda guerra do Iraque (2003)

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes strategic communication as a tool for smart power in the Second Iraq War (2003), observing how the combination of hard and soft power elements influenced political and military outcomes. The research is based on the theoretical framework developed by Joseph Nye on hard power, soft power, and smart power, highlighting how information and narrative disputes have gained increasing relevance in the contemporary international environment. The case of the Second Iraq War is examined through three axes: the formulation and dissemination of justifications for the war, the use of strategic communication in the operational environment, and the impact that the constructed narratives had on public opinion and international legitimacy. The investigation reveals that the lack of full integration between discourse and practice, the so-called say-do gap, compromised the credibility of the United States' actions, limiting the reach of smart power in the post-war period. It was found that strategic communication, when coherently aligned with political objectives and supported by consistent actions, can enhance influence and reduce resistance. In the studied case, the discontinuity and dissonance between official messages and the observed reality generated symbolic and political desgaste, affecting the ability to maintain internal and external support.