Keyword – soft power

Dariia, Opryshko:

‘Soft Power’ in the Twisted Mirror of Disinformation and Propaganda

This paper investigates the role and importance of “soft power” elements in the dissemination of disinformation and propaganda. It highlights the differing approaches adopted by democratic countries and authoritarian regimes towards the concept of soft power. The analysis focuses on the instrumentalisation of soft power elements such as the media, culture, religion, education, and science in the spreading of disinformation and propaganda, illustrated through the example of Russia and the Russkiy Mir concept. The paper concludes that strategies designed to counter disinformation and propaganda should extend beyond fact-checking and the improvement of media literacy, adopting instead a more comprehensive and holistic framework. Such strategies should also encompass the safeguarding of the values targeted by information attacks. Finally, the author proposes a series of measures that states may implement to counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).

Keywords: soft power, disinformation, propaganda, Russkiy Mir, human rights