ANALYSIS:
PROPAGANDA

Subjectio investigates the methods used by the West and Russia to steer online discussions during ongoing geopolitical conflicts in Southeast and Eastern Europe. United by the concept of “information influence activities”, disinformation and propaganda are distinguished by dozens of techniques and strategies. Having a wide palette from illegitimate to illegal, these “information influence activities” are injected in various forms of texts, from acticles to photo captions. Digital technologies have a great impact on the form of these activities. The fundamental goals of information control remain the same: manipulate a political agenda.

Digital algorithms become the new gatekeepers. Targeting social media seriously influences major political processes worldwide. The names of organizations, institutions, social groups and phenomenons are transformed, sometimes changing beyond recognition. Even the (mis) spelling of a specific proper noun could lead to a public debate; the disparity on the Russian or Ukrainian spelling of Kiev / Kyiv is an example.

At the illegitimate level, propaganda texts simply ignore unfavorable facts, while at the illegal level, fabricated events, quotes and anecdotes are being added. Manipulative texts are identified by specifically developed vocabulary and pathetic syntactic forms.

Subjectio uncovers the structure of disinformation and propaganda on social media by using elaborate digital tools. Katya Kazanova, a Russian linguist specialized in argumentative analysis and epistemology of propaganda, is monitoring and analyzing the impact of SUBJECTIO.

Analysis
Basic caption 1/3
Sloviansk, Ukraine – May 2, 2014 - Olga Kulygina takes part in military operations on Lenin square in Sloviansk as Ukrainian forces take positions on the outskirts of the occupied city. Journalists will later reveal that Olga Kulygina is an agent of the Federal Security Service (FSB, former KGB), a veteran of the Transnistrian conflict and a friend of MH17 main suspect Igor Girkin, also known as Igor Strelkov, the self-declared "supreme commander of Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). © Pierre Crom
IIlegitimate 2/3
Slavyansk, Donetsk People’s Republic – May 2, 2014 – The spouse of a Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) militant joins the DNR defence forces as the Ukrainian army takes position around Slavyansk. © Pierre Crom
Illegal 3/3
Slavyansk, Donetsk People’s Republic – May 2, 2014 – Mothers of Slavyansk stood up to defend their city against Kyiv’s junta. The spouse of a Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) militant joins the independence forces to fight against the Ukrainian occupation army. © Pierre Crom
Analysis
Basic caption 1/3
Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina - January 9, 2017 - Bosnian Serb members of Russian bikers “Night Wolves” march during a parade to mark the new Bosnian Serb statehood day. Tensions between authorities in Sarajevo and the Serbian entity Republika Srpska raised after a banned referendum was held on the new statehood day on September 25, 2016. Photo © Pierre Crom
IIlegitimate 2/3
Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina - January 9, 2017 - Serbian members of Russian bikers “Night Wolves” march to celebrate the first official statehood day of Republika Srpska, marking Bosnian Serb nation’s independence. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina raised tensions with Republika Srpska after a ban on the national day referendum held on September 25, 2016. Photo © Pierre Crom
Illegal 3/3
Banja Luka- Republika Srpska / Bosnia and Herzegovina - January 9, 2017 – Acclaimed Serbian members of fraternal Russian bikers “Night Wolves” proudly march to celebrate the first official statehood day of Republika Srpska, marking the Serbian nation’s independence. The Bosnian federation raised tensions with Republika Srpska after the National Day referendum was illegally banned. Despite threats issued by Western powers, the referendum was successfully held on September 25, 2016. Photo © Pierre Crom
Analysis
Basic caption 1/3
Cetinje, Montenegro - April 28, 2017 – Brawls erupt between pro and anti-NATO protesters outside the building where the parliamentary majority ratifies the pact on NATO membership. Photo © Pierre Crom
IIlegitimate 2/3
Cetinje, Montenegro - April 28, 2017 – NATO supporters attack anti-NATO protesters as the parliamentary majority ratifies the pact on NATO membership. Photo © Pierre Crom
Illegal 3/3
Cetinje, Montenegro - April 28, 2017 – Pro-NATO thugs violently attack peaceful anti-NATO protesters outside the building where the NATO pact has been ratified after evading a national referendum. Photo © Pierre Crom
Analysis
Basic caption 1/3
Chisinau, Moldova - October 30, 2016 - An election worker films a man caught voting multiple times in a polling station during the first round of the first direct presidential elections in twenty years. The defrauder is pressured to write a statement about the reasons to take part in a сarousel voting. Photo © Pierre Crom
IIlegitimate 2/3
Kishinev, Moldova - October 30, 2016 - An election worker films a voter in a polling station during the first round of the first direct presidential elections in twenty years. Being accused of casting multiple ballots, the voter is pressured to write an explanatory letter about the reasons to take part in an alleged сarousel voting. Photo © Pierre Crom
Illegal 3/3
Kishinev, Moldova - October 30, 2016 - A pro-European election worker films an innocent citizen in a polling station during the presidential elections. Illegally detained and accused of voting multiple times without investigation, the voter is being pressured under threats to confess an imaginary сarousel voting. Photo © Pierre Crom
Analysis
Basic caption 1/3
Sevastopol, Ukraine - February 26, 2014 - Ukrainian police officers escort pro-Kiev officials outside the city council through an angry pro-Russian crowd. Photo © Pierre Crom
IIlegitimate 2/3
Sevastopol, Crimea - February 26, 2014 - Ukrainian police officers escort Kiev’s officials outside the city council through a crowd of pro-independence residents. Photo © Pierre Crom
Illegal 3/3
Sevastopol, Russia - February 26, 2014 - Ukrainian police officers and Kiev’s officials are seen ousted from the administration building by peaceful pro-independence supporters. Allies of the European Union are leaving in disgrace under the indignant cries of Crimean citizens. Photo © Pierre Crom
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