Hybrid Warfare Information warfare involves the use and management of information to gain a competitive advantage over an opponent, including both offensive and defensive measures. Offensive tactics might involve cyber attacks, hacking, and disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining an adversary’s decision-making process or public morale. Defensive measures focus on protecting one’s own information systems and […]
What is a dictator, and what drives the allure of absolute power? How do dictators reshape the political and social landscapes they dominate? This post explores the intricate systems of control underpinning authoritarian governance, tracing its evolution from historical precedents to modern manifestations, and examining the far-reaching consequences for societies caught in its grip. Dictators: […]
The Psychology of Sadism: Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature In the pantheon of human psychological traits, few are as unsettling β yet fascinating β as sadism. While the term often conjures images of extreme criminal behavior or medieval torture chambers, the reality is both more nuanced and more pervasive than most people realize. […]
Disinformation is more than just false informationβitβs a calculated effort to deceive. Unlike misinformation, which spreads by accident or ignorance, disinformation is crafted with precision to manipulate public opinion and sow confusion. Its architects in the right-wing media ecosystem and elsewhere often exploit existing dividesβpolitical, social, or culturalβusing these cracks in the foundation of society […]
Jesus commanded us to love our enemies. The vitriol of our politics — the violent rhetoric, the animosity, the refusal to engage in democratic deliberation — is not loving our enemies. It seems to me that Christian nationalism isn’t very Christian, in word or deed. Jesus hated fame, loathed fortune, and eschewed power. So many […]
A Dictionary of the Cold War These Cold War definitions are unfortunately all too relevant again with the advent of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Some terms are from the original period of nuclear anxiety between the United States and the Soviet Union, and are being fleshed out with new terminology from the age of frigidity […]
In it simplest form, active measures incorporates information warfare aimed at undermining the West. Active measures (“Π°ΠΊΡΠΈΠ²Π½ΡΠ΅ ΠΌΠ΅ΡΠΎΠΏΡΠΈΡΡΠΈΡ” in Russian) refer to a form of political warfare conducted by the Soviet Union and now, by extension, Russia, to influence the course of world events. These measures include a wide range of activities, such as espionage, […]
Buckle up, we’re in for a wild ride. Many of the serious scholars of political history and authoritarian regimes are sounding the alarm bells that America has rapidly tilted towards authoritarianism. How did we get here?! How has hyper partisanship escalated to the point of an attempted coup that is not only shrugged off, but […]
Words, words, and more words. In a world of increasing disinformation, it’s more important than ever to be armed with actual information. And being curious about the meaning, nature, and origins of things is a rewarding journey in and of itself. Think of these dictionaries as tools for your mind — they can help you […]
Gaslighting describes the act of professing skepticism, disbelief, or denial of another person’s lived experience, feelings, or perceptions of reality. It’s one thing to disagree respectfully with someone; it’s another thing altogether to deny the validity of their point of view to the point of aggression, and attack them with hostility. Gaslighters are engaging in […]
It ain’t just a river in Egypt, y’all. Denial is a psychological condition in which a person rejects a fact or truth that is too painful, or that they are simply unwilling or uninterested to hear. Denial is a common trait amongst certain kinds of personalities, including Cluster B personality disorders like narcissism and sociopathy. […]
Fifth World War refers to a concept of non-linear war; the war of all against all. The term was coined by Vladimir Putin‘s vizier Vladislav Surkov. According to Surkov, the first four world wars were fought with physical weapons and military power, while the fifth world war is being fought with information (and disinformation), culture, […]
While multiple formal investigations against the Trump family and administration continue to unfold, and Drumpf supporters weirdly deny the probable cause for concern, Putin’s troll army continues to operate out in the open on Twitter, Facebook, Medium, and other social media networks. The sheer scale of this operation started to become clear to me in the months […]
There’s something conspicuously absent from American political discourse: actual discussion of values and the morals, ethical choices, and beliefs that go into the creation of good government policy. Think about the last major political debate you watched, or the last campaign ad that stuck with you. How much of it was about what government should […]
Common Sense Review: The Original Viral Manifesto and What It Teaches Us About Revolutionary Rhetoric A reading guide for the disinformation age There’s a certain type of political document that doesn’t just argue for changeβit manifests the psychological conditions that make change feel inevitable. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is the template for this genre, and […]