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Browse resources on authoritarian sharp power and its effects on the integrity of institutions and globalized spaces.
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Publication Date: September 30, 2024
Pro-Russian Politicians Step Up Propaganda Efforts ahead of Moldova’s EU Accession Referendum
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Europe, Moldova
Author: Iulian Ernst
Pro-Russian interference is growing ahead of two votes in Moldova. Maia Sandu’s national security adviser estimated that Russia will spend €100mn to interfere with the presidential elections and EU referendum. This interference includes bribes and replacing media closed for pro-Russian propaganda.
Publication Date: September 29, 2023
Sweden Accuses Iran of Targeted ‘Misinformation’ about Quran Burnings
Authoritarian Country: Iran, Russia
Affected Region: Europe, Sweden
Author: Seth J. Frantzman
Iran and Russia-backed disinformation campaigns have used recent Quran burnings to manipulate sentiments in Sweden. Fearing the effects of these malign efforts, the Swedish government has tasked its Agency for Psychological Defense with countering these campaigns.
Publication Date: September 26, 2023
Moldova’s President Calls Out Russian Meddling
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Europe, Moldova
Author: Ahshish Kumar Sen
Moldova has sought support of the EU and international community to safeguard its democratic processes against Russian subversion. Russian tactics include election interference, disinformation, and economic blackmail.
Publication Date: October 27, 2023
Russian Influence Campaigns in Latin America
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico, Costa Rica, Latin America and the Caribbean, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Author: Douglas Farah and Román D. Ortiz
Since 2013, Russia has sought to undermine U.S. influence in Latin America through strategic investments and an elaborate information ecosystem, involving local institutions, media, and civil society. Persistent anti-U.S. and antidemocratic messaging are main features of the information operations.
Publication Date: October 15, 2024
Germany in the Crosshairs of Russia’s Information War
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Europe, Germany
Author: Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven
In early 2024, a gigantic pro-Russian online disinformation campaign was uncovered in Germany. By enticing, threatening, and confusing populations with contradictory messages, the Kremlin aims to poison German politics, soften the country’s support for Ukraine, and shake transatlantic relations.
Publication Date: March 23, 2023
China, Russia Target Audiences Online With Deep Fakes, Replica Front Pages
Authoritarian Country: China, Russia
Affected Region: Global
Author: Liam Scott
Concern has grown over Russia and China’s use of AI to impersonate trusted international media outlets and personalities in bids to manipulate information around the globe. Researchers anticipate the volume and quality of deep fakes to intensify, contributing to a further erosion of trust in media.
Publication Date: March 19, 2022
Why are Indonesians on Social Media so Supportive of Russia?
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Asia-Pacific, Indonesia
Pro-Russian content regarding the war in Ukraine have dominated Indonesian social media. These sentiments are driven in part by resentment towards the United States, Russia’s academic diplomacy with Indonesia, and the Indonesian public’s personal identification with Putin’s strongman character.
Source: Power 3.0
Publication Date: June 27, 2024
Caught Between Two Giants: How Mongolia’s Democracy Can Counter Authoritarian Propaganda
Authoritarian Country: China, Russia
Affected Region: Asia-Pacific, Mongolia
Author: Batsugar Tsedendamba
In Mongolia, the PRC and Russia have launched aggressive propaganda campaigns and sought to suppress negative media regarding their activities. Beijing-affiliated content has promoted the CCP’s economic model, whereas Kremlin-backed media has focused on promoting anti-American and anti-West stances.
Publication Date: July 25, 2024
Russia and Iran in Latin America: Same Outlook, Similar Playbooks
Authoritarian Country: Iran, Russia
Affected Region: Latin America and the Caribbean, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico
Author: Henry Ziemer, Tina Dolbaia, Mathieu Droin
Following its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has used its media contacts across Latin America to weaken support for Ukraine and alienate the region from the West. Similarly, Tehran’s Spanish-language media has partnered with local authoritarian-leaning media outlets to amplify pro-Iranian messaging.
Source: Latinoamérica21
Publication Date: January 4, 2024
RT: Disinformation without borders
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico
Author: Armando Chaguaceda
In Mexico, the Kremlin has been engaging in disinformation campaigns through the state-owned media outlet RT in Spanish. These campaigns seek to disseminate illiberal ideas, undermine international and domestic democratic institutions, and promote authoritarian interests.
Publication Date: January 25, 2024
Russian Influence Operations in 2024 with Catherine Belton
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Europe, Germany, Italy, France
Author: Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya
Russia has been executing major malign influence campaigns and donating political funds in order to influence European elections, such as the 2024 European Parliament and French elections. This has been done with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and spreading anti-American sentiment.
Publication Date: February 13, 2024
Expansion of Kremlin-backed Media in Bosnia Is a Concern, Analysts Say
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Author: Amina Bijelonja Muminovic, Inda Swanke, Amer Jahic
The Kremlin-backed news outlet, Russia Today (RT), is expanding its influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The growing ties may foster anti-Western values and hinder Bosnia’s path to NATO and EU membership.
Publication Date: December 6, 2023
Fake Taylor Swift Quotes Are Being Used to Spread Anti-Ukraine Propaganda
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Global
Author: David Gilbert
The Kremlin has launched an information campaign using doctored images of high-profile celebrities to spread anti-Ukrainian messaging. The campaign reached at least 7.6 million people on Facebook alone, casting doubt over Meta’s willingness and ability to filter deceptive content.
Publication Date: August 4, 2024
Kremlin-Backed TV Channel Woos Africa
Authoritarian Country: Russia
Affected Region: Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal, Algeria, Mali
Author: Kate Bartlett
Russian state-affiliated outlet RT has been broadcasting disinformation across Africa, using the narrative that Russia is an anti-colonial power to gain traction in the continent. Analysts say that these propaganda efforts have the goal of “triggering destabilizing and antidemocratic consequences.”
Source: MapInfluenCE
Publication Date: April 1, 2022
From East with Love: Dissecting Pro-China Bias in Czech and Slovak Alternative Media
Authoritarian Country: China, Russia
Affected Region: Europe, Czechia, Slovakia
Author: Veronika Blablová et. al.
‘Research found confluence of Sino-Russian narratives in alternative media in Slovakia and Czechia, particularly regarding Hong Kong and Taiwan. The articles localized issues to domestic audiences and amplified Chinese and Russian perspectives at the expense of local views.