Russian Disinformation in the 21st Century
Overview
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Russian disinformation campaigns have been a major talking point in the West for nearly a decade. Much ink has been spilled on these campaigns’ effects on elections, policy, and even general public opinion. Western governments clearly consider it a threat: the UK Parliament had a “Disinformation and ‘Fake News’ Committee in 2018, the US State Department’s Global Engagement Center released a report on Russia’s disinformation strategy in August 2020, and the US Army War College published an article discussing Russian Information Warfare in May 2024. The question remains, however: how does Russian disinformation operate, how effective is it, and what can be done about it?
This panel discussion will feature a conversation among Sir John Scarlett, Peter Pomerantsev, Dr. Sarah Ann Oates, and Jill Dougherty. They will discuss the past, present, and future of Russian disinformation campaigns, their most common targets, and what potentially can be done to put a stop to them.
Speakers
Jill Dougherty
Adjunct Professor Georgetown University; On-Air Contributor on Russia, CNN
Sarah Oates
Associate Dean for Research and Professor, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park
Peter Pomerantsev
Sir John McLeod Scarlett
Hosted By
Kennan Institute
The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange. Read more
Global Europe Program
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe’s capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe’s relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include “Ukraine in Europe” – an examination of what it will take to make Ukraine’s European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe’s energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program’s staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more
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