The Narrative of “Information Warfare against Russia” in Russian Academic Discourse

Abstract

This essay focuses on the communicative aspects of geopolitical struggles and addresses a problem of self-evaluation of Russia in the context of information warfare. The concept of “information warfare” as used in this article is based on the idea that information superiority is a crucial precondition for the achievement of political goals in global political arena. The review and analysis of Russian scientists’ writings and public presentations about information warfare reveal that Russia perceives itself as a target in information warfare. The dominant mood is that Russia for the present is at war with the West in informative environment. “Information warfare against Russia” is a wide and congruent narrative in Russian academic discourse that can be structured by six themes: (1) the collapse of USSR as a defeat in information warfare; (2) interpretation of history as a front line in information warfare; (3) Russia as a potential source of raw materials for the West; (4) Russophobia as a strategy of the West against Russia; (5) Color Revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe as a direct threat to Russian security; (6) Eurasian superstate as a counterbalance to the West.

KEYWORDS:

• information warfare
• narrative
• Russia