How the G.O.P. Fell in Love With Putin’s Russia
What explains the Trump administration’s radical reversal toward Moscow?
Propaganda
Humiliation as Propaganda: Videos of Shackled Detainees Have History in El Salvador
A video showing rough treatment of deportees over the weekend was an extraordinary depiction by U.S. standards, but not by El Salvador’s.
America the Evil Mastermind? Not So Fast, Russians Are Told.
As President Trump begins to side with Russia, the Kremlin propaganda machine has changed its tune.
Chinese Company to Single Workers: Get Married or Get Out
As China’s government worries about the falling birthrate, some private employers have ordered workers to do their part, or else.
Self-Deterrence, Narrative Control, and Nuclear Deterrence: The Case of Israel
The theory of self-deterrence has emerged as a pivotal factor in shaping the behavior of nuclear-armed states. At the heart of this concept lies the intricate interplay between reputational concerns, precedents of nuclear use, and the credibility of nuclear deterrence. When leaders are self-deterred from employing nuclear weapons due to the fear of tarnishing their […]
Self-Deterrence, Narrative Control, and Nuclear Deterrence: The Case of Israel was originally published on Global Security Review.
Propaganda vs. Truth: Israeli Propaganda and Palestinian Demonisation
Unless the root causes of Israeli oppression are addressed, this vicious cycle of violence will continue.
TikTok Editorial Analysis
TikTok seems to be skewing things in the interests of the Chinese Communist Party. (This is a serious analysis, and the methodology looks sound.)
Conclusion: Substantial Differences in Hashtag Ratios Raise
Concerns about TikTok’s ImpartialityGiven the research above, we assess a strong possibility that content on TikTok is either amplified or suppressed based on its alignment with the interests of the Chinese Government. Future research should aim towards a more comprehensive analysis to determine the potential influence of TikTok on popular public narratives. This research should determine if and how TikTok might be utilized for furthering national/regional or international objectives of the Chinese Government…
As Xi Heads to San Francisco, Chinese Propaganda Embraces America
After years of anti-American propaganda, the softer, warmer depiction of relations with the United States has left some Chinese social media users confused or amused.
Political Disinformation and AI
Elections around the world are facing an evolving threat from foreign actors, one that involves artificial intelligence.
Countries trying to influence each other’s elections entered a new era in 2016, when the Russians launched a series of social media disinformation campaigns targeting the US presidential election. Over the next seven years, a number of countries—most prominently China and Iran—used social media to influence foreign elections, both in the US and elsewhere in the world. There’s no reason to expect 2023 and 2024 to be any different…
Russian Journalist Sentenced in Absentia for Antiwar Protest
Marina Ovsyannikova, who worked for state TV for two decades before protesting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was sentenced to more than eight years.