Strategic Communication Archives - ICDS

From Rome to Kyiv, Passing Through Moscow: Russian Strategic Narratives in the Italian Public Discourse on Ukraine

The current Italian government strongly supports Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. This support, mobilised under the leadership of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, is quite remarkable given the widespread perceptions of Russia and Ukraine that have been circulating in the Italian society. For years, the Italian public discourse has been influenced by the strategic narratives favourable to the Kremlin’s interests and damaging those of Ukraine.

Image for From Rome to Kyiv, Passing Through Moscow: Russian Strategic Narratives in the Italian Public Discourse on Ukraine

Publications

Local Russian-language Journalism in the Baltics: Challenges and Perspectives for Building Resilient Communities of Media Professionals

The policy paper analysis explores a set of emerging human-driven vulnerabilities of the media landscapes in Estonia and Latvia to develop an evidence-based policy approach to increase the practical resilience and preparedness of Russian-language newsrooms and local journalists working in those areas and regions of high informational vulnerability.

Image for Local Russian-language Journalism in the Baltics: Challenges and Perspectives for Building Resilient Communities of Media Professionals

Commentary

Dovilė Budrytė: All Is Well if Nobody Starts Asking for More Prestige than Others

The three small states on the shores of the Baltic Sea are not geopolitical heavyweights in the global arena but working together they manage to achieve their strategic goals. Though the Baltic three seem to be destined to remain close, some rifts and open dissatisfactions have appeared and might once more damage the currently warm relations, says Dr Dovilė Budrytė, a professor of political science at Georgia Gwinnett College (U.S.).

Image for Dovilė Budrytė: All Is Well if Nobody Starts Asking for More Prestige than Others

People board the Russian special government plane at the Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague, Czech Republic, 19 April 2021. According to the findings of the Czech security forces, there is reasonable suspicion that members of the Russian secret service GRU were involved in the explosion of the ammunition complex in Vrbetice in 2014. Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek expelled all diplomats who were identified as members of the Russian secret services GRU and SVR, some 18 people.

Commentary

The Actions of the Russian Intelligence Must Be Countered in Public

One cannot ignore the misfortune of others in counterintelligence—international cooperation is necessary. Ignoring unacceptable actions that occur elsewhere or failing to discuss them at home means more victims in the future.

Image for The Actions of the Russian Intelligence Must Be Countered in Public

Commentary

Some Initial Lessons Identified for the West from Russia’s Action against Ukraine

The exact reasons for the build-up of Russian forces in and around Ukraine are known only to President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle, but it would be unwise to believe that there is no link between this show of force and the signals Moscow receives from Kyiv and Western capitals. Western nations should not be or appear to be deterred by Russian information operations and troop build-ups.

Image for Some Initial Lessons Identified for the West from Russia’s Action against Ukraine

Commentary

Can Solidary Support for Ukraine Serve as a Deterrent Factor for the Kremlin?

The current reaction of the West to provocative threats by Russia is both prompt and concrete, but for political statements to reach the desired effect, they must be supplemented by substantial practical steps.

Image for Can Solidary Support for Ukraine Serve as a Deterrent Factor for the Kremlin?

Commentary

Cult of War: Russia Actively Promotes Militarism Among the Youth of the Crimea

In the occupied Crimea, promoting militarism among the youth of the Crimea is a consistent, large-scale, purposeful process, aimed at suppressing individuality and raising obedient and motivated soldiers for the Russian armed forces. The militarisation starts in the kindergartens or even at birth.

Image for Cult of War: Russia Actively Promotes Militarism Among the Youth of the Crimea

Commentary

The Spirit of Yalta in Putin’s Article “The Real Lessons of the 75th Anniversary of World War II”

The Munich Agreement cannot be considered the same as the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact.

Image for The Spirit of Yalta in Putin’s Article “The Real Lessons of the 75th Anniversary of World War II”

News

Ivo Juurvee in NATO StratCom COE Talks on Falsification of History

Russia’s attention to history – especially to WWII or what they call Great Patriotic War – has steadily grown since 1995 and has by now exceeded the Soviet era and is still growing, Dr Ivo Juurvee, ICDS Head of Security and Resilience Programme noted in a NATO StratCom COE webinar on the use of history as a tool of foreign influence by Russia and other actors.

Image for Ivo Juurvee in NATO StratCom COE Talks on Falsification of History

Publications

The Bronze Soldier Crisis of 2007: Revisiting an Early Case of Hybrid Conflict

This report revisits the spring 2007 crisis in Estonia, centred on the World War II memorial known as the Bronze Soldier statue. The crisis is well-known both in Estonia and abroad. It was one of the first wake-up calls to the cooling of relations between Russia and the West. It also involved the first use of wide-ranging cyber-attacks against a state.

Strategic Communication

Search