Targeting Russians with such a strategy would also open up a new front in the conflict, draining even more of the Kremlin’s resources. The Russian people need to be exposed to uncomfortable realities about endemic corruption, a cratering economy, and the horrors in Ukraine this will expose (and deepen) the existing fault lines in Russian society. Putin’s regime thrives on the political apathy of its citizens, which stems from the assumption that he has improved their lives-so refuting that tenet is key to undermining him. Demonstrating new technological capabilities could also have a deterrent effect on Russia. A key advantage for the United States is its strong technological base, and as the American public increasingly expects companies to take stands on political issues such as Putin’s invasion, these firms should be more motivated to partner with the US government. It should also be a key component of the administration’s integrated deterrence approach, which aims to unify all domains of conflict and instruments of national power, and wield transparency as its primary weapon. It should be coordinated by a central agency but also draw from a variety of others, including the departments of Defense and State, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the intelligence community. Today, the information environment is global and the American people are a target audience that is in play in unprecedented ways.īut when it comes to going on the offensive, the Biden administration needs a strategy that focuses on three main audiences: the Russian people, Putin’s military, and contested publics throughout the world. On the home front, the United States must consider a defensive strategy to inoculate domestic audiences against Kremlin information operations that seek to poison American public fora. Combating it-and therefore undermining President Vladimir Putin’s regime-means proactively promoting truth and high-quality information instead of reactively responding to Russian propaganda. The war in Ukraine provides a clear example: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has successfully targeted his appeals at specific Western audiences to strengthen global support for his country.īut the United States neglected that power for many years, focusing instead on military and diplomatic capabilities, while Russia has built its own formidable propaganda machine in a Soviet, Cold War-era mold. The power to sway public opinion is an increasingly essential asset in any state’s toolkit.
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