Foreign state propaganda is an integral  instrument of strategic statecraft. Recent technological disruptions such as algorithm-based digital platforms have enabled information warfare to become an even more powerful instrument of great power rivalry. Authoritarian states have adapted to new realities early and successfully established a strategic information warfare arsenal to conduct offensive destabilization and subversion campaigns abroad. State and non-state actors alike harness the potential to pursue their interests: Astroturfing mimics grass-root pressure on divisive issues, micro-targeting aims to swing elections and troll factories conduct disinformation campaigns to erode trust into political systems. The ultimate goal being indecisive, polarized and divided societies, which even doubt basic facts.

Western policymakers recognize the weaponization of digital platforms and react with sophisticated legislation to defend and combat foreign actors: New initiatives fight disinformation online, tech company regulation intensifies, digital platforms introduce transparency tool to flag affiliations with foreign state outlets, military and intelligence communities set up strategic information and communication capabilities. Are such mostly defensive instruments sufficient in the context of great power rivalry? Or should Transatlantic state actors develop and refine new and existing offensive information warfare capabilities?

This hybrid event will provide a unique opportunity for participants to actively engage in a timely and important discussion about the future of information warfare, and the role of the West in this threat to the liberal democratic order. In an interactive debate style format, we will discuss the notion: Information Warfare: A Promising Approach for Western States to Protect Their Interests in the Era of Digital Propaganda

All participants will have the opportunity to vote before and after the discussion on the above notion, as well as to raise questions to the distinguished panel. The event will be conducted in-person at the Amerikahaus, as well as digitally broadcasted via YouTube. 


Optional Readings:
„Disinformation and Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine: Threats and Governance Responses“. OECD Policy Responses on the Impacts of the War in Ukraine. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 
„Strategic Information Warfare: A New Face of War“. RAND Corporation.
„The Clear and Present Danger of Disinformation”. Davos 2023 - World Economic Forum. 
„The Future of China’s Cognitive Warfare: Lessons from the War in Ukraine“. War on the Rocks.
„The west must help Ukraine win the information war as well“. Financial Times.
„Why the U.S. Ramped Up Its Information War With Russia“. Council on Foreign Relations.
„Winning the Information War“. Center for European Policy Analysis. 


Panelists:
Jürgen Ehle, Rear Admiral at German Armed Forces & Senior Military Advisor to Managing Director CSDP of the European External Action Service (EEAS)
Dr. Katja Muñoz, DGAP Research Fellow, Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics and Technology 
Radoslaw Sikorski, Member of European Parliament, former Secretary of State and Minister of Defense, Republic of Poland
Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Editor In Chief at Deutsche Welle



Photo: ©NASA / unsplash.com