How Russian Propaganda Works Through Social Media

[joshcryer]

This sampling from one individual indicates that most of the information comes from a few sites. The material can only be described as hate propaganda directed against Ukraine.

1. The content repeats several themes: atrocities are being committed by forces loyal to the Kyiv government; this government lacks broad support in the population; all who support the present government must be removed, even if they have to be slaughtered; Ukraine does not exist as a country; support for Ukraine is support for Nazism.

2. The language is calculated to dehumanize. The government and its supporters are called a junta, swine, amoeba, mongrels, Nazis, Banderites, morons, bitches.

3. An underpinning ideology is articulated by Alexander Dugin, the fascist political thinker who has Putin’s ear. Dugin insists that Ukraine does not exists, has never existed. Dugin calls upon Putin to invade Ukraine. His Eurasianism is a blend of fascism and Stalinism that calls for a revived Russia to extend its borders and to challenge the US and EU. This is now becoming Moscow’s bedrock ideology.

http://www.ukrainianwinnipeg.ca/russian-propaganda-works-social-media/

I called this months ago. It's good to have proof that the Russian propaganda is coming from a few small sources.

[independentpiney]

1. And http://www.ukrainianwinnipeg.ca is such an objective source

There's propaganda being generated by both sides, with the pro-western propaganda being catapulted by mainstream US media.

[Igel]

2. You wind up with few sources that are accessible because of the nature of the beast.

It's like getting a good picture of the CPSU in 1955. You can rely on the CPUSA for an "unbiased" view. You can rely on those opposed to it. Or you can rely on scholarly works that are probably inaccessible.

Or you can bury yourself in the original materials for which, unfortunately, you'd need nifty language skills and the right clearance.

In the current dust-up you need to read all kinds of things in Russian. Even just based on what's publicly accessible, the very fact that Putin formed the ONF and that it's been highlighted and catapulted is a serious problem. He may not be a natsbol, but the "nats" part certainly applies. (A natsbol is a member of Limonov's party, sensu stricto, but also an adherent of "national-bolshevism".)

What you have is an ad hominem argument going. "They're who they are, so they cannot possibly have anything to say and not only can but must be ignored." Now, this kind of argument is a fallacy but there are times when it becomes a useful heuristic, for all its fallaciousness. If you have 30,000 sources, why choose one that is likely to be biased or partial? There are better sources, in all likelihood, and this isn't a question of logic but of wise use of resources. Given limited resources, you must choose where to expend them, and you choose better instead of weaker sources. (Hat-tip to Peirce, the American positivist philosopher.)

If you lack a lot of good resources, then weaker sources become more useful. Dugin's a known quantity. Putin's views are known quantities. Except that you have to stop filtering and insisting on the One True Perception Filter.

You also have to understand that truth, for many, is flexible. It then has a different face depending who you're talking to. Now the Customs Union is all about money and nothing more. Now it's about Russians being united, and looks like culture/ethnicity. Now it's about maintaining the hegemony of Russian as the regional language--which both gives Russia a financial/economic advantage as well as a national/ethnic one.

Then you read what's said about how important Russia must be regarded and how it needs to take its proper place in the world. It should be consulted when nearby countries make decisions. This is more nationalism than it is economic.

Then you read about restoring dignity and honor and sense of purpose/mission, and you're well away from economics. You're talking pure jingoism. All Russians are good and their rights need to be respected. All those who oppose Russia are fascists (Georgians are fascist--did you know that? Saakshvili was a fascist. The current leader is a fascist. They don't want to learn Russian, acknowledge Russia's dominance, and that makes them fascist. Remember that when Putin calls Turchynov a fascist.)

And so it goes. Note that I've never looked at the Canadian site.

[independentpiney]

7. I always enjoy reading your posts/replies

And I agree not reading Russian/Ukrainian puts one at a big disadvantage in fully understanding what's going on. And even with that advantage, you would need to 'know how to read Pravda' as the old joke went, to get anywhere near the truth. I can't help but notice though that your post only addresses Russian propaganda, with no mention of the propaganda/disinformation being disseminated by the pro Western alignment faction(s) For example, have you heard Putin is a Madman Dictator who wants to return to the days of that old Georgian Man of Steel? I have, right here on DU.

I'm curious why you see Putin forming the ONF or even his nationalist tendencies as a serious problem, at least from a US or Western European perspective. I might be concerned if I was Russian, or from some, but not all of the former SSRs. But from my North American geopolitical perspective I don't find much to be concerned about.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

14. Good post. nt

[joshcryer]

4. They cite many other sources at the bottom.

What is important is that we now have proof that many stories coming out of there originate with a central source.

[independentpiney]

5. A Russian extremists facebook- type page reposts things from just a few hate sites. Not a surprise

You'll find the same thing with white supremacists, ultra-nationalists and any other type of extremists anywhere. They thankfully don't have a lot of hate sites to re-blog from, so most of their bullshit comes from just a few sites. The propagandist running your source site offers no proof whatsoever to back his allegation that these hate sites are part of a top down Russian disinformation campaign.

I also wouldn't consider 4 references to be 'many sources', especially since the open Democracy article doesn't have much if anything to do with the subject matter, the Guardian piece, which is unavailable, was in the commentary/opinion section, and the Kyiv post piece which is also unavailable was in the Kyiv Post, which I put at about the same credibility level as RT with regards to this situation. The other reference cited is in a language using the cyrillic alphabet, none of which I read or speak.

[joshcryer]

6. Sure, except we don't spout that nonsense.

While the pro-separatists do, on a daily basis, often times attempting to completely discredit the newswire.

[independentpiney]

8. Who is 'we'?

And I've never seen the type of vile shit referred to on that extremists page posted on DU or anywhere else.The most extreme I've seen is referring to all, rather than just some, of the Kiev people as fascists and some talk of cookies. But then again on 'your' side I've seen Putin referred to as a madman, mad dictator and other Saddam Hussein type descriptors and the pro Russian factions described as terrorists. Along with displays of incredible ignorance of even 20th century East European and Soviet/Russian history. There are no clean hands in this.

[joshcryer]

9. I have.

On phone or I would link.

[okaawhatever]

13. +100 nt

[newthinking]

3. Just as the west does. But the west also has the mainstream press lapdogs. Media of the Oligarchs

I was honestly shocked to see how far and uniform the mainstream press has misreported things in Ukraine. They are fully run by greed and oligarchy at this point.

[yurbud]

12. you would think after Iraq they would be a bit gunshy, but they have no shame

[Iterate]

10. An interesting document from Latvia

This was published on April 2nd, and when I just now went back to recheck the source I noticed it was quoted more widely but still not often.

It's a brief post-Crimea defense study for Latvia. I don't think that anyone could fault them for having some valid concern. I also don't see how anyone could characterize the two million Latvians as imperialist neocons duped by American media. There is no Latvian MIC. That makes the Latvian POV interesting and more valid.

The study looks like one that would be used to get policymakers up to speed and synchronized in their thinking. It's findings support the conclusion in the work you cited, and shows how that fits into an overall plan. I'll clip part of it as inducement to read. It's only 15 pages.

Russia’s New Generation Warfare in Ukraine: Implications for Latvian Defense Policy
http://www.naa.mil.lv/~/media/NAA/AZPC/Publikacijas/PP%2002-2014.ashx

The phases of new-generation war can be schematized as (Tchekinov & Bogdanov, 2013, pp. 15-22):

First Phase: non-military asymmetric warfare (encompassing information, moral, psycho-logical, ideological, diplomatic, and economic measures as part of a plan to establish a favorable political, economic, and military setup).

Second Phase: special operations to mislead political and military leaders by coordinated measures carried out by diplomatic channels, media, and top government and military agencies by leaking false data, orders, directives, and instructions.

Third Phase: intimidation, deceiving, and bribing government and military officers, with the objective of making them abandon their service duties.

Fourth Phase: destabilizing propaganda to increase discontent among the population, boosted by the arrival of Russian bands of militants, escalating subversion.

Fifth Phase: establishment of no-fly zones over the country to be attacked, imposition of blockades, and extensive use of private military companies in close cooperation with armed opposition units.

Sixth Phase: commencement of military action, immediately preceded by large-scale reconnaissance and subversive missions. All types, forms, methods, and forces, including special operations forces, space, radio, radio engineering, electronic, diplomatic, and secret service intelligence, and industrial espionage.

And a Seventh and Eighth Phase. The recommendations are worthwhile reading as well.

[independentpiney]

11. That is a very interesting document

The Russian doctrine for new- gen warfare described, at a quick read, is fairly similar to what's publicly known of US doctrine , but specifically adapted for bordering states containing large ethnically Russian and/or Russian speaking populations. The link cited in the op however deals only with a Russian extremists page for internal Russian consumption, not for the foreign destabilization described in the Latvian document, and no relation at all to English language propaganda, which seems to be the linkage the op was trying to make.

While Latvia and the other Baltic States certainly have legitimate concerns regarding Russia, and are seen by Russia as an inherent part of it's sphere of influence, I'd think they're at far less risk than states containing regions that were considered integral parts of Russia for centuries before the Soviet Union came into being.

Again, thanks for posting that, I'm going to read it more thoroughly later this evening.

[freshwest]

15. Sounds like CT here, sans the profanity. Same baseline assumptions. The link explains the vitriol.

They all sound alike, no negotiation with elected officials, etc. Must all be wiped out, no one can speak against them. This is not freedom of the mind or the body, this is regressive and it's oppression:

to MBS:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014804344#post11

The guy says he is going to essentially do an operation like Boko Harum has done in Nigeria, destroying towns:

http://i.cbc.ca/1.2539690.1392581551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/nigeria-violence.jpg

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/suspected-islamists-kill-90-in-nigeria-village-raid-1.2539680

We've already seen the actions in Ukraine:



Look at the people standing there in a daze, the work of their hands burning, their civil society trashed. Threatening or doing such destruction is UNJUST.

It's a long read, but take a look at what Tsiyu says here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=91277

[joshcryer]

16. Amazing DU post!

How did you find it?

[freshwest]

17. Stumbled on her post by looking up Recs by someone I was going to reply to, tired of being flamed...

One word and you get a huge post of invective and loaded questions as if you're the worst person in the world. Explain and get a no-apology 'sorry.' And another one bites the dust.



Tsiyu really put into detail my feelings and what I've tried to say for so long about real courage is, and what supporting your fellows means. You know, all that boring organizing, standing up for the unpopular etc.

She used great examples, and followed through with the consequences of their fantasies as I've tried to do. It was a great rant and then some, wasn't it?

[joshcryer]

18. It's a crying shame it went unnoticed.