Many people, parties, and nations are involved in manipulating the media we are exposed to. In the most innocent case, we are being manipulated through sensational content into following links, and reading material that is exaggerated and designed to peak our interests so that we spend extra time on a site, page, or post longer than we otherwise might. This translates to money and it comes through advertising. (In our case, any similar profit would come through education or discourse.)
A more sinister form of manipulation is conducted by our political parties, or foreign governments who aim to influence American opinions or effect our actions and votes. Russia is masterful in their efforts to gain support for their interests or candidates or parties sympathetic to their cause. This is a form of political warfare that Russia refers to as Active Measures.
Russia employs its political warfare and active measures in what it views as liberal democracies around the world. It doesn’t necessarily create fault lines in a society, but expertly attacks existing points of division. Russia does not do this in support of one side or another, but to fan flames, sow discord, and divide the citizenry.
Russia does not necessarily support one American political party over another. They have gone after both Republicans and Democrats they view as hostile toward Russian interests. Russia does not care about US Second Amendment Rights, Monuments, or Police Brutality. Russia is not interested in if Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, or vaccinations in America. Russia will use any opportunity to make America look bad in the eyes of the world, and often promotes opposing sides of an argument.
Russia’s ideal would be to orchestrate a violent clash between opposing sides of a sensitive American issue. One of Russia’s favorite issues to exploit is race in America. Another favorite issue for Russia to exploit is our economy or social inequality. It may be simply a coincidence, but the Trump Campaign, who has extensive proven ties to Russia is using these techniques to divide the American people over our election results. Intentionally or unintentionally, this helps Russia demonstrate to the world that Democracy is flawed.
Reading Recommendations:
Zach Dorfman. Why Russia Will Keep Poking America’s Racial Wounds. Axios, 2020.
Julia Ioffe. The History of Russian Involvement in America’s Race Wars. The Atlantic, 2017.
Richard Stengel. Information Wars: How We Lost the Global Battle Against Disinformation & What We Can Do About It. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 2019.
