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ISIJ 55: Open Source Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, and Human-centered Approaches to Cybersecurity and Countering Disinformation (cover)

Volume

55

ISIJ 55: Open Source Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, and Human-centered Approaches to Cybersecurity and Countering Disinformation

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Beyond Propaganda: Soviet Active Measures in Putin’s Russia

How to cite:

Steve Abrams

"Beyond Propaganda: Soviet Active Measures in Putin’s Russia"

Connections: The Quarterly Journal,

15

no. 1

(2016):

5-31.

http://dx.doi.org/10.11610/Connections.15.1.01

Abrams, Soviet Active Measures

Authors:

Source:

Connections: The Quarterly Journal,

Volume: 15,

Issue1,

p.5-31

(2016)

Keywords:

active measures, agent of influence, deception operations, disinformation, hybrid warfare, KGB, Russia, Siloviki, subversion

Abstract:

This paper investigates the role of Soviet-style “active measures” as an element of modern Russian “political warfare.” These techniques were commonly used during the Soviet-era, encompassing a broad range of influence activities, including: covert media placement, forgery, agents of influence, “friendship” societies, front organizations, and more. Today, in Putin’s Russia, these active measures are once again in use, updated for digitally interconnected “global information space.” The paper begins with an introduction to active measures, then discusses their role in Soviet foreign policy and the attempts by the American “Active Measures Working Group” to counter them. The paper then describes how the Soviet active measures playbook has been updated for the modern era, using three case studies as examples. The paper concludes with a discussion on strategy, reproducing a number of recommendations from key publications.

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