Shlok on 5GW: Worse than Wrong
by tdaxp ~ May 2nd, 2008
Like Purpleslog I subscribe to Shlok’s RSS feed. We even have similar interests. He’s a good thinker and a good writer. Which is why nonsense like this is a kick in the teeth:
Shlok Vaidya’s Thinking › Key: Reacting To System Shocks
5GW is what we label the emergent pattern formed by a distributed multitude of empowered individuals acting in concert by acting in their own self interest, without any collaboration.Point: Understanding that warfare is not all that different from any other system shock. Value: you build systems that are resilient and able to handle all of them.
Logic: The more naturally unpredictable events you can deal with, the better. Examples: tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. (Differentiated from brute force attacks such as hurricanes or any kind of warfare utilizing tanks.) The commonality is the disruption of service delivery infrastructure, now able to be replicated by small groups or one individual. The tactical mechanics of warfare matter less in an era where anyone can do anything at any time from scratch. This means flat, lean platforms that are able to foster reactions to all system shocks effectively are key.
RC’s [Resilient Communities] are the strategy until we can see or know more about 5GW (all we can currently know is in that paragraph), although I don’t think this core understanding will change.
As far as I can tell, Shlok is doing the following:
- Redefine a useful concept out of existence
- Defend that value-destroying definition by saying he doesn’t know what he’s talking about
- Defending his ignorance by saying his redefinition is probably right, anyway
It’s disappointing stuff.
An idea that is merely one is one that observes some phenomenon, and provides an incorrect interpretation of it. Shlok’s post is worth than wrong, as it obfoscates what the subject of study.
The idea of someone taking it seriously frightens me. Either that person would be an academic, and (honestly judging from the intellectual quality of the post) conclude that the entire generation of war framework is trash, or someone who seeks to use the information to do something practical, which he’ll find harder to do after surviving Shlok’s nonsense-ignorance-presumption three-step.
[1]...
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Where can a find a good introduction to 5GW? Because I don’t see the problem with this statement?:
“RC’s [Resilient Communities] are the strategy until we can see or know more about 5GW (all we can currently know is in that paragraph), although I don’t think this core understanding will change.”
Is there more to 5GW than this? I need to learn more about this subject before commenting. Tell me where I can start.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Seerov, a good introduction is forthcoming.
Here is a definition:
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.
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I replied on Shloky’s with something appropriate to you RC question:
http://shloky.com/?p=998#comment-35653
I pretty much disagree with that 5GW definition. I have gone over that before, so I won’t repeat here.
The RC idea is interesting as it is a defensive strategy for natural / made-made-negligence / man-made-deliberate disasters.
This should be an element of security, no the end all to security. I don’t subscribe the the fatalism theme of Global Guerrilla either though, so I understand the divide between our positions.
There should be more to national defense then just hoping to absorb and recover from major bad events.
Of course, RC isn’t about “National” anything. It is about making sure that the affluent and self appointed elites can survive in comfort – the rest of the nation-state be dammed.
I do look forward to John Robb’s forthcoming book and articles to understand it more, to crib what I fine useful (and discard the rest).
If I am misunderstanding the RC concept, please direct me to some useful links. Thanks!
—-
I replied to a similar question about 5gw at my blog with this:
http://purpleslog.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/of-the-people-by-the-people-the-strategic-citizen-5gw-style/#comment-42300
the difference is subtle, but the ramification is large.
The Shloky definition (its not just him BTW), takes a set of observable effect, groups them together an declares them to be emergent 5GW. These can be man-made individual actors and possible natural source.
The individuals are in no way working together. They have no common shared purpose, no common networks, no knowledge of each other no coordination of effort or will, no joint purpose.
In effect, the Shloky version of 5GW:
- data mines certain effects
- groups them together and declares them
declares it to be the result of 5GW
- further declares that it is unstoppable echoing the defensive fatalism/hopelessness of the global guerrillas concept (and its supports)…
-…since there is no hope in stopping it, the nation state-state is doomed…
-…the best thing for the elites and affluents to do is to somewhat abandon the nation-state and prepare to save them selves in self-sustaining RC (resilient communities).
When I fell snarky, the RC seem to resemble a Yuppie Survivalist Movement to me.
–
To me (and I believe for the most part of among my co-blogger at dreaming 5GW) we see 5GW as deliberate action.
Reference my working definition of 5GW:
“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.”
Note “deliberative”.
It is a positive definition that assumes thinking purposeful actors…not the data mining of results.
Now in the SC 5GW, the SC actors “who are unconnected in any way except for the desired related end effects to be achieved through the sum of the individual actions”.
These Strategic Citizens are connected. From a Counter-5GW PoV that gives us options other then then the RC concept.
Note: I expect aspects of the RC concept to be useful and could be used for other aspects of security and emergency recovery for the state as a whole.
—-
Sorry for the long comment!
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 am
Seerov,
For one, 5GW may actually build resilient communities. In fact, I suspect that resilience will be key for successful 5GW. Those “5GWarriors” will seek to be able to stand apart from the unfolding circumstances, after getting the ball rolling — even if system shocks are used to move the ball in the first place — secure in the knowledge that the system they are building will continue, or maintain itself, or be resilient.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:09 am
Seerov,
To be useful, a definition has to be a conjecture that can be refuted, not a vague overgeneralization that describes everything or nothing.
My first reaction to Shlok’s definition was that under it, the economy was 5GW. (Nonsensical, I know.) But on further consideration, his concluding part “acting in their own self interest, without any collaboration” appears to limit 5GW actors to those on the far side of the autism and social isolation spectrum (also absurd).
In the original post, I link to a working typology [1] and a working definition [2], which may be good places to start.
If you’re looking for a place to start, might I humbly suggest my first posts on the topic [3,4]
Curtis,
True, but the resilience of their system-building-architecture does not necessarily mean that they are in a resilient community.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2007/08/01/kinds-of-5gw.html
[2] http://www.dreaming5gw.com/2008/04/purpleslogs_5gw_working_defini.php
[3] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2005/07/18/orientation-and-action-part-i-the-ooda-loop.html
[4] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2005/07/20/dreaming-5th-generation-war.html
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
OK, I have a lot of reading to do.