text: Chapter 2
  Army SFA force knowledge and understanding of cultures in their area of operations tend to be relatively
  limited due to the time needed to develop that knowledge and understanding.
  2-92. The Army’s generating force can help the SFA enterprise develop their understanding of foreign
  cultures, based on its own expertise and access to significant analytical capability and capacity from the DOD
  and other sources outside the DOD. The uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of future conflicts and the long
  lead-time associated with developing a useful degree of cultural understanding cause the Army’s knowledge
  of foreign cultures to be relatively limited.
  2-93. Understanding the sociocultural aspects of a particular society or group within a society can
  significantly improve the SFA force’s ability to accomplish the mission. Important social and cultural
  considerations include—
  * How popular is the military institution amongst the society?
  * What is the human context based on the country’s history, culture (shared beliefs, values, customs,
  and behaviors), and language(s)?
  * Does the presence of women and children in the streets indicate stability, or merely the perception
  of it?
  * Is there a dominant religious or ethnic group, and, if so, from where does it get support?
  * What is the ethnic composition of neighborhoods or villages?
  * Who are the powerful individuals and groups within the area of operations? Who are the civilian
  decision makers?
  * Are Soldiers restricted from interacting with any people in the area of operations without
  government approval?
  Economic Considerations
  2-94. An economic system encompasses individual behaviors and aggregate phenomena related to the
  production, distribution, and consumption of resources. Successful conduct of SFA depends, in part, on
  understanding the economic aspects of an OE.
  2-95. Important economic considerations for SFA include—
  * What does the economic architecture consist of, in terms of regional security organizations and
  regional economic organizations?
  * What are the relationships between the countries in the region?
  * Do international agreements exist that facilitate access and freedom of movement?
  * What is the extent of poverty in the area of operations?
  * What is the primary source of income for most civilians?
  * What criminal activities exploit the area of operations (such as corruption, prostitution, extortion,
  illegal fuel sales, or bomb making)?
  * What collective job opportunities exist to employ the young and disenfranchised?
  * What role does the partner FSF currently have regarding corruption within the economic arena in
  the area of operations?
  * What corruption is best left alone in the interest of SFA mission accomplishment?
  Information Considerations
  2-96. This variable describes the nature, scope, characteristics, and effects of individuals, organizations, and
  systems that collect, process, disseminate, or act on information. The information environment relevant to a
  specific campaign or major operation typically extends beyond the joint operations area. Adversaries and
  enemies establish their information operations capabilities in sanctuaries in neutral countries. They attempt
  to conduct information operations against the United States worldwide, making the defense of enterprise
  network capabilities relevant to the ongoing joint operations.