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Informationskriget: Nya skiljelinjer och nya medel i världspolitiken

Sandbacka, Henrik LU (2018) STVK02 20182
Department of Political Science
Abstract
The last few years has seen the world slipping back into the classic dividing lines of the Cold War - marked perhaps most clearly by Russias invasion of Crimea in 2014. At the same time, a new phenomenen has entered modern politics. We discuss fake news, information warfare and election meddling - again with Russia as a proposed assailant. What is the driving force behind this? And is it something inherently new?

Through a qualitative motivational analysis, I argue that there are two main reasons for Russias war of information towards the European Union. A weakened EU leads to an internationally stronger Russia, with less competition for it's own foreign policy and reduced resistance to the annexation of Crimea. But undermining the EU... (More)
The last few years has seen the world slipping back into the classic dividing lines of the Cold War - marked perhaps most clearly by Russias invasion of Crimea in 2014. At the same time, a new phenomenen has entered modern politics. We discuss fake news, information warfare and election meddling - again with Russia as a proposed assailant. What is the driving force behind this? And is it something inherently new?

Through a qualitative motivational analysis, I argue that there are two main reasons for Russias war of information towards the European Union. A weakened EU leads to an internationally stronger Russia, with less competition for it's own foreign policy and reduced resistance to the annexation of Crimea. But undermining the EU is also of domestic value. Creating a common enemy of the west deflects internal criticism against the Russian state - uniting the people in a time of both economic, political and cultural uncertainty.

I ultimately argue that this is something new. Although both motivations and methods have historical equivelents, I believe it's contemporary importance is unparalleled. Traditional warfare is becoming less and less viable. At the same time, the growth of social media has completely shifted the political arena. Together they constitute a new challenge for the democratic society. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sandbacka, Henrik LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK02 20182
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Russia, European Union, Brexit, Crimea, Hybrid Warfare, Fake News, Eurasian Union, Vladimir Putin, Robert Cooper
language
Swedish
id
8965116
date added to LUP
2019-03-21 10:09:06
date last changed
2019-04-01 12:08:20
@misc{8965116,
  abstract     = {{The last few years has seen the world slipping back into the classic dividing lines of the Cold War - marked perhaps most clearly by Russias invasion of Crimea in 2014. At the same time, a new phenomenen has entered modern politics. We discuss fake news, information warfare and election meddling - again with Russia as a proposed assailant. What is the driving force behind this? And is it something inherently new?

Through a qualitative motivational analysis, I argue that there are two main reasons for Russias war of information towards the European Union. A weakened EU leads to an internationally stronger Russia, with less competition for it's own foreign policy and reduced resistance to the annexation of Crimea. But undermining the EU is also of domestic value. Creating a common enemy of the west deflects internal criticism against the Russian state - uniting the people in a time of both economic, political and cultural uncertainty.

I ultimately argue that this is something new. Although both motivations and methods have historical equivelents, I believe it's contemporary importance is unparalleled. Traditional warfare is becoming less and less viable. At the same time, the growth of social media has completely shifted the political arena. Together they constitute a new challenge for the democratic society.}},
  author       = {{Sandbacka, Henrik}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Informationskriget: Nya skiljelinjer och nya medel i världspolitiken}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}