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The Russian Understanding of Influence Operations

Wicken, Noah Rohan LU (2021) UNDA23 20211
Department of Political Science
Abstract
By analyzing course material used in the education of future diplomats and government officials, this study examines how the “problem” of foreign influence operations is constructed and understood by the Russian government. This study shows that foreign influence operations are described as close to an existential threat to Russia. It finds that the Russian government views “liberal values”, “historical revisionism” and “color revolution” as threats to Russia’s national security. These three themes are connected through the perceived importance of “traditional Russian values” for Russian statehood. This suggests that “liberal values”, including the tolerance of sexual minorities, are threats because they are seen as a challenge to the... (More)
By analyzing course material used in the education of future diplomats and government officials, this study examines how the “problem” of foreign influence operations is constructed and understood by the Russian government. This study shows that foreign influence operations are described as close to an existential threat to Russia. It finds that the Russian government views “liberal values”, “historical revisionism” and “color revolution” as threats to Russia’s national security. These three themes are connected through the perceived importance of “traditional Russian values” for Russian statehood. This suggests that “liberal values”, including the tolerance of sexual minorities, are threats because they are seen as a challenge to the legitimacy of the authoritarian state. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wicken, Noah Rohan LU
supervisor
organization
course
UNDA23 20211
year
type
L2 - 2nd term paper (old degree order)
subject
keywords
Influence operations, information warfare, Russian threat perception, Russian state ideology, color revolution
language
English
id
9047034
date added to LUP
2021-08-30 09:17:18
date last changed
2021-08-30 09:17:18
@misc{9047034,
  abstract     = {{By analyzing course material used in the education of future diplomats and government officials, this study examines how the “problem” of foreign influence operations is constructed and understood by the Russian government. This study shows that foreign influence operations are described as close to an existential threat to Russia. It finds that the Russian government views “liberal values”, “historical revisionism” and “color revolution” as threats to Russia’s national security. These three themes are connected through the perceived importance of “traditional Russian values” for Russian statehood. This suggests that “liberal values”, including the tolerance of sexual minorities, are threats because they are seen as a challenge to the legitimacy of the authoritarian state.}},
  author       = {{Wicken, Noah Rohan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Russian Understanding of Influence Operations}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}