Nick Trapani

POLI388

Executive Summary

The topic I am discussing for my research project is the Battle of Midway. Its significance is found in the pivotal nature of the Midway Islands to both the United States and Japan in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. In my research of the Battle of Midway (and events leading up to it), I will be applying such concepts as deception, intelligence, pre-play communications, and credible commitments (to name only a few). Deception can be seen in the feint by the Japanese Navy towards Alaska, with the intention of leading the United States to believe that Japan was instead attempting a more direct attack on America rather than taking the Midway Islands. Intelligence (of a secret but taken-for-granted-by-the-other-side nature) is evident in the monitoring of communications of the United States military by the Japanese, and vice-versa. It was assumed by both sides that the other was listening in on communications, so encryptions were used, as well as severe limiting of communications altogether. Pre-play communications are a less clearly-used concept in the Battle of Midway. It was overall accepted without any declaration that both America and Japan wanted the Midway Islands and were prepared to fight for them. This could be seen more as a credible commitment, though without verbally stating such commitment.