The production of this ‘news' is to create suspicions, promote disunity amongst NATO and EU countries, amplify any strategic differences between Europe and North America and increase insecurity amongst the populations. Kseniya Kirillova a Russian based in the US has identified five American vulnerabilities that help spread the Kremlin's propaganda message.
1. Americans tend not to oppose the viewpoint of people if the latter are perceived as truly sincere in its credibility, even if it is known to be false. This creates ‘authentic facts' that remain unchallenged.
2. Americans often do not suspect those who are perceived as being an authority on the issue. This includes those who are from the region wherever the news originates and who speak of it with conviction. They might even be tasked to offer a narrative that totally contradicts the real facts.
3. ‘Typical Americans' tend to exhibit an unsophisticated knowledge of foreign affairs. They don't concern themselves with issues that are distant from their everyday worries. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is one problem not infringing upon the common American's life. Russian propagandists therefore expect their version of the Ukrainian issue to be accepted as presented by the Kremlin.
4. Since the US media adheres to the notion of objectivity by reporting news, without critical comment, accepting the believability of the content, be it bogus or twisted. This confuses objectivity with balance. Balance gives the opposing view equal treatment. It is not necessarily objective and legitimate.
5. Americans are inclined to be critical of their government. This mistrust often extends to the mainstream media. Thus, news reports originating from the scene, as packaged by Kremlin propagandists enjoy much more credibility. This is amplified if it differs from Washington's message.
Paul Goble has said Lenin insisted that Marxism was powerful because it was true. Similarly, Lenin's successors in the Kremlin have found success with their propaganda, because they carefully customize their messages and techniques to the truth accepted by their audiences.
The Russian propaganda assault comes in many shapes and sizes, from sophisticated American style programming, manned by on-camera personnel with authentic American or British accents, to the most bizarre and oftentimes laughable output of the hundreds of trolls filling the social media.
It has been suggested that the West should increase their output of positive messages. But negative messages are surprisingly powerful. The Kremlin has had an appropriate ally in this by exploiting the oftentimes contradictory and accusatory outbursts of one of the two US presidential candidates. Guess which one?
Laas Leivat
