Abstract
The security threat posed by information influence is often attributed to its potential to trigger societal destabilisation. This is particularly problematic in the European setting where a number of societies are experiencing increased polarisation. An element of this destabilisation is psychological: strategic narratives influence how citizens of targeted societies comprehend and interpret the (international) political reality. If this is antagonistically skewed, it could lead to a myriad of destabilising psychological responses being elicited in these citizens. There is, however, little attention from psychological science as to if, and if so which, psychological effects of (antagonistic) strategic narratives are provoked. This study aims to make a first step in identifying causal links between Russian antagonistic strategic narratives targeting European states and societies and possible psychological responses. Drawing on extant qualitative analyses of Russian antagonistic strategic narratives about Sweden and the Netherlands, it tests a transdisciplinary model that links Russian state-sponsored narrative strategies to key types of perceived threat, and that subsequently predicts different cognitive and emotional responses. This study acts as a basis for future research analysing in more longitudinal research paradigms. Insights into causal links between particular Russian narratives and psychological responses in citizens can aid with, for example, more accurate measurement of the impact of Russian information influence, better preparation of the society against this type of security threat, and better construction of possible counternarratives.
Panel: Foreign Information Influence as an (Inter)National Security Threat