MISSION & CHARTER

DSC2 IS A COMMUNITY OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF SECURITY, DEFENCE AND DEMOCRACY.

NEXUS: DSC2 provides a safe space to its members for collaboration, exchange and mutual inspiration.

EMPOWERMENT: DSC2 promotes an ethical application of strategic communication and its recognition as an autonomous policy field.

INNOVATION: DSC2 advocates for evidence-based interventions, anticipation, preparedness and foresight.

DSC2’s definition of ‘strategic communication’

According to DSC2, strategic communication is the policy or process allowing to achieve a strategic effect through a communication-sensitive activity.

Simply put, it is about what needs to be said, to whom, and by what means, to achieve the desired strategic effect.

Strategic communication is an approach to impact on attitudes and behaviours, through the use of communications. The different use of singular and plural is not by chance. DSC2 believes that there is a substantial difference between “communication” and “communications”. In fact, while strategic communication refers to the policy approach, strategic communications is the toolset – the instruments through which the former is implemented.

What is meant by communications is all forms of activity that try to change, inform, or shift the way people think or feel, act or behave – thus communications activity extends from traditional one-to-one conversations to actual deeds.

DSC2 inspiring principles

DSC2 is an apolitical organisation, meaning that it does not receive direct funding from or work for political parties.

DSC2 has a global ambition and scope and fundamentally adheres to the principles of multilateralism.

DSC2 upholds the UN Charter, and specifically the right of self-determination, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions and recognises international jurisdictions. In so doing, it promotes respect for the rule of law and adheres to international humanitarian law.

DSC2 fosters an integrated approach between security and defence and occasionally between civil and military.

DSC2 also believes that effective and long-term human security and defence policies are best guided by democratic principles, including freedom of expression and of press.