Russian propaganda and it’sinfluence on the rise of far

right-wing parties in the European Union

By Emily Simonson

Overview

I. What is propaganda?II.Propaganda in RussiaIII.The journalist’s role in Russian mediaIV. False stories initiated by Russian mediaV.How Russian propaganda is affecting EuropeVI. How is this shaping politics in Europe?

What is propaganda?

“Propaganda are messages designed to change the attitudes and behavior of huge numbers of otherwise disconnected individuals on controversial social issues.

It enables rulers to spread lies through media and manipulate large numbers of peopleto support their views.”

(Turow, 2014)

“By presenting limited views of the world, the media is able to create ’ideas in ourheads’ about what is going on in the world, known as agenda setting.” (Turow, 2014)

Patriotism, nationalism, and anti-Westernism are vital elements of Putin’s propaganda.

In addition to patriotism, there is an emphasis on “us versus them”. A clear division between Russian speakers and non-Russian speakers, most of whom are considered the enemy.

(Vazquez Linan, 2010)

How propaganda works when it is applied

The way propaganda works is that it segregates people, which makes them feel alone, causing them not to organize and ultimately be something beyond a spectator of action. Organization is the biggest threat to authorities because it disrupts harmony and destabilizes the system.

Additionally, instilling fears of internal and external threats keeps people scared thus they are distracted from critically thinking and evaluating situations.

(Chomsky, 1997)

Journalists in Russia

There are two ideas that exist in Russia regarding journalism:

1. Journalists “should function as an extension of the government, supporting the status quo and assisting in maintaining the stability of the social system,” or

2. Journalists act as a critics, as adversaries, that promote “change of the state of affairs but also destroys the system” thus disrupting the harmony

(Pasti, 2005)

Journalists in RussiaPasti (2005) found that in a sample of 30 Russian journalists, all 30 respondents considered suppressing facts to be acceptable, and also publishing unverified information.

All participants in the sample were unanimous in their trust of officials, whom they also rely on for information.

Examples of anti-Westernism

How does false information provided by Russian journalists affect European politics?

A 13-year-old ethnic Russian girl claimed to be raped by three immigrants in Germany –although a police investigation concluded that the attack never took place. The first reports sent “tens of thousands Russian diaspora into the streets to protest Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open door [refugee] policy.”

German officials claim that the “Lisa Affair” was conjured up by “President Putin’s propaganda machine to undermine Merkel in the run up to the regional elections which results in stinging losses for her party.”

Currently, Germany has a special unit devoted to countering Russian-supplied false information and it operates under the assumption that Putin’s goal is to topple EU-friendly governments and replace them with pro-Russia parties.

(Delfs & Meyer, 2016)

Why Germany?

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that about 3.5 million speakers of Russian live in Germany.

Kamynin, Mikhail (2007)

Euroskepticism and anti-Westernism

Euroskepticism is “the rejection of EU institutions and integration and the loss of national sovereignty and cultural dilution.”

The far-right emphasizes that the EU has become a threat to national sovereignty, and Muslim immigrants are blamed for the “loss of national values and the threat to liberal democratic ideals.”

If/when those [far right-wing] parties come to power, Putin’s allies ill no longer be the “crazies” on their right but governing bodies of the EU.”

(Polyakova, 2016)

Does propaganda work?

Lazarsfeld, Berelson, & Caudet, (1948) found that people were influenced by “opinion leaders who had received their information from the media” from which they developed the two-step flow model, meaning that people do not generally receive their information from the media itself but from others who have already formed an opinion after being exposed to the media.

Additionally, Lazarsfeld et al. (1948) found that when a political campaign did have a persuasive effect, it “served more to activate and reinforce…. predispositions rather than to change attitudes.”

The Kremlin Reach in European Politics

In regards to political ties between European far-right parties to Russia, one can distinguish between committed, open/neutral and hostile.

Countries with far-right parties committed to Russia include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom.

Countries with far-right parties open/neutral are Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Holland, Poland, and Sweden.

Countries with far-right parties hostile towards Russia are Finland, Latvia, and Romania.

(Political Capital Institute, 2014)

The Plot Thickens…South Ossetia (a region belonging to Georgia) plans to hold referendum on becoming part of Russia before August.

(TASS, 2016)Even in Lativa who has been labeled as being hostile towards Russia had a formerly insignificant Harmony Center party won the elections with strong Russian backing.

In Italy, the Northern League’s European Parliament representative, Lorenzo Fontana sees Russia as a model example when it comes to national identity and the protection of family, in addition, a major economic partner.

In Greece, Golden Dawn chairman Nikolaos Michaloliakos argued a natural alliance between Greece and Russia, and Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris said that if they win the election, they will immediately enter into an alliance with Russia.

In France, the French National Front leader, Marine Le Pen recommended that Germany and France enter a strategic alliance built on military and energy partnership with Russia.

(Political Capital Policy Research & Consulting Institute, 2014)

Cont’d…The Austrian FPÖ and the Bulgarian Ataka parties have faced allegations of acceptingRussian financing.

The parties also criticize EU integration of Eastern European countries and defend Russia’swar on Ukraine by reguarly voting against Russia resolutions in the European Parliament.

(Rettman, 2014)

Golden Dawn Party’s Political Symbol

Under Le Pen, France has it’s own nationalistic propaganda

So what does this all mean?

There is a shift in European politics to far right-wing extremist parties that value tradition and nationalism, and they have represented themselves as protectors of civic liberal tradition.

This shift is supported by an attitude that is formed by Euroskepticism and anti-Westernism which is rooted from Russian propaganda via disinformation.

The public’s approval of the EU has declined since the financial crisis from 60 to 45 percent and is projected to decrease even more with the ongoing refugee crisis.

If trends continue then “the United States may find in Europe not a strategic ally but a pro-Russian political force.”

(Polyakova, 2016)

ReferencesBenalia, E. (2016) Berliner Morgenpost. Tod im U-Bahnhof: Russisches TV nutzt Vorfall für Propaganda. Retrieved from

http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article206970331/Tod-im-U-Bahnhof-Russisches-TV-nutzt-Vorfall-fuer-Propaganda.html

Chomsky, N. (1997). Propaganda & Control of the Public Mind. Alternative Radio.

Delfs, A., & Meyer, H. (2016) Bloomberg. Putin’s Propaganda Machine is Meddling With European Elections. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-20/from-rape-claim-to-brexit-putin-machine-tears-at-europe-s-seams

Jowett, G. S., & O'donnell, V. (2014). Propaganda & persuasion. Sage Publications.

Kamynin, Mikhail (2007). "Russian MFA Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin Interview with RIA Novosti Regarding Upcoming Conference on Status of Russian Language Abroad". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Retrieved from http://archive.mid.ru//bdomp/brp_4.nsf/e78a48070f128a7b43256999005bcbb3/55cec39404735aadc32572ea005b9953!OpenDocument

Lazarsfeld, P., L. Berelson, and H. Caudet. 1948. The People's Choice: How the Voter makes up his Mind in a presidential Campaign. New York: Duell, Sloan, and Pearce.

Liñán, M. V. (2010). History as a propaganda tool in Putin’s Russia. Communist and post-communist studies, 43(2), 167-178.

Pasti, S. (2005). Two generations of contemporary Russian journalists. European Journal of Communication, 20(1), 89-115.

Political Capital Policy Research & Consulting Institute. (2014). The Russian Connection: The spread of pro-Russian policies on the European far right. Retrieved from http://www.riskandforecast.com/useruploads/files/pc_flash_report_russian_connection.pdf

Tass: Russian News Agency. (2016) President: South Ossetia plans to hold referendum on becoming part of Russia before August. Retrieved from http://tass.ru/en/world/868630

Turow, J. (2013). Media Today 5th edition. Routledge.

Photo AcknowledgementsSlide 1: http://www.ilkha.com/files/news/default/abden-turkiyeye-vize-sartia1ba26401414358d625b.jpghttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/archive/f/f3/20120812153730!Flag_of_Russia.svg

Slide 4: https://resize.rbl.ms/image?source=https%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FBh3F6jDCYAAt25H.jpg%3Amedium&size=2000%2C2000&c=%2BCbVM4Vo0KrsjkJmhttps://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2c7D_Tx_jjPUNz1rlPuKRZAKCKt-ZZkbesjhUkUb-CvFEgCJp

Slide 6:http://img.radio.cz/pictures/c/media/protiamericka_propaganda.jpghttp://www.paginaeuropeana.ro/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/putin-sustinatori.jpg

Slide 10:https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NQOj3bt6xeoS34yLWoYcLLsJUoB5e3zpKRcPrybl2hfqu5JGMmDtAtGr9F8RHkWHsupOLNc=s170

Slide 13: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-20/from-rape-claim-to-brexit-putin-machine-tears-at-europe-s-seams

Slide 15:http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.53901224.1690/flat,800x800,070,f.u2.jpg

Slide 20:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Dawn_(political_party)http://d1udmfvw0p7cd2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/w2-goldendawn-a-20131103.jpg

Slide 21:https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2015/12/10/frances-national-front-is-overshadowed-by-fraud-issues-russian-interests/