Strategic Communication Laboratories

What is SCL for?

Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL) was formed in 1993 because

'The demand for the agency grew out of the failure and frustration many clients experienced when trying to apply traditional marketing techniques to non-commercial issues, such as resolution of wars and civil strife, strike aversion, international crises and riot control.' ^[1]

Quoting Abraham Lincoln, the opening page of SCL's website clearly states its objective:

"Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail. Without it nothing can succeed. He who molds public opinion is greater than he who enacts laws." ^[2]

Here is another, perhaps more methodologicaly appropriate, quote often attributed to Lincoln:

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time

Who are SCL out to fool and with what, is not immediately obvious from their description of themselves. They are pioneers of "a new methodology" based on "16 years of academic research and development conducted at 42 universities around the globe." But what is it?

"The methodology uses 'scientific techniques' from a variety of social sciences to make ‘communications with groups’ far more effective (and measurable)."

What this scientific methodology does is enable governments 'and countries' to 'manage their relationships with their key audience groups through more powerful communication.' SCL offers various solutions based on this methodology to help countries in specific governmental areas such as defence, foreign affairs, internal security, health, finance and tourism. The site also tells us that SCL are the 'leading supplier of strategic communications, information operations and [public diplomacy] to governments and military clients around the world'. Communication can be more than just propaganda. Their section on Homeland Security [3] tells us they are in the business of 'population control.'

Public diplomacy, information operations and strategic communication are the polite terms for propaganda, spin and psychological operations, a further look at the site reveals that this methodology has a name (and an institiute) the 'Behavioural Dynamics Institute' a 'virtual lab' led by Professor Phil Taylor of Leeds University.

At times their tone can be a bit ominous "In a world where the perception is the reality, all countries need to have the capability to manage their own perceptual alignment – otherwise someone else will." But they are not without humour, and quote Sourcewatch on their own site. [4] Nigel Oakes, their CEO has stated: 'We used to be in the business of mindbending for political purposes....' [5]

The company pledges strict confidentiality, saying that "absolutely no information concerning any of our past projects will be made available under any circumstances".^[6] However, Oakes has admitted working in South Africa, but refused to talk about any other cliets.

Board of Directors

• The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Pattie Chairman
• Nigel Oakes Chief Executive Officer
• Alex Oakes Director
• Alexander Nix Director
• Roger Gabb Director
• Julian Wheatland Director
• Rear Admiral John G Tolhurst CB FRAeS Advisory Board
• The Rt. Hon. Sir James Mitchell Advisory Board
• John Bottomley FCIS Company Secretary
• Ian Tunnicliffe Director of Information Operations
• Dr Andrew Stewart Advisory Board
• Lord Birdwood Advisory Board
• Lord Ivar MountbattenAdvisory Board
• Professor Phil Taylor BA PhD – Behavioural Dynamics Institute Advisory Board
• Gavin McNicoll Advisory Board ^[7]

Address

SCL are based at 33 St James's Square London SW1Y 4JS, ^[8] according to their website, this houses 18 separate companies. These include Anglo & International Corporate Finance Ltd, Kobe Steel Europe Ltd, and Scotland & Associates. ^[9] The Website according to http://www.whois.net was registered by REGISTER.COM, INC. ^[10] whose principal activity is to provide internet domain name registration and other online products and services such as web hosting, email, domain name forwarding and advertising.

Partners

Strategic Communication Laboratories have two partners Advanced Strategic Initiatives, Inc. and VT.

notes

1. ^ Strategic Communication Laboratories
2. ^ Strategic Communication Laboratories
3. ^ Strategic Communication Laboratories
4. ^ http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/addressfinder;jsessionid=MNZPRLEAXSAPSFB2IGFENZQUHRAYWQ2K?catId=400145&pageId=pcaf_a_ma_results&_requestid=106779&gear=postcode
5. ^ www.whois.net, accessed 14/02/07
6. ^ Strategic Communication Laboratories
7. ^ Sunday Times, August 6, 2000