Mission Communication as an Integrative Overall Strategy in Protest 2.0

The importance of operational communication in assemblies is examined using a case study of the operation at Dannenröder Forest, a forest area to be cleared for a highway expansion. In 2020, the Hesse police, along with subordinate public order units from across Germany, managed the situation in Dannenröder Forest for several weeks. First, the new demands on police communication resulting from the use of social media during protests are presented. Subsequently, the importance of Tactical Communication in operations is highlighted using various theoretical approaches and practical examples. The goals, applications, and methods of Tactical Communication are presented. Finally, challenges that arise in the context of protest 2.0 (expansions of protest into virtual space) are highlighted. The multitude of communicative challenges requires effective understanding and implementation of mission communication as part of an overall communicative strategy. [A first version of the article with a different main emphasis was published in Schenk, C. & Bornhausen, M. (2022).]