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9 - Geopolitics in the Age of Social Media: The Struggle for Influence on Ukraine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2023

Iulian Chifu  and
Greg Simons
By
Greg Simons
Iulian Chifu
Affiliation:
National Defence University, Bucharest
Greg Simons
Affiliation:
Uppsala Universitet, Sweden
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Summary

As the twenty-first century progresses, geopolitical competition and conflict has steadily increased. Although this competition and conflict is still noticeable offline, there is an increasing focus on online priming and mobilisation of global audiences. This chapter details and analyses the nature of geopolitics in the social media age with the case study involving the struggle for influence in Ukraine. Attempts are made to shape and construct the ’reality’ in Ukraine as a means of freeing-up one’s own operational choices while limiting those of the opponent.

Keywords

geopoliticssocial mediaUkraineinfluenceRussiainformation ageEuromaidanpersuasionWeb 2.0
Type
Chapter
Information
Rethinking Warfare in the 21st Century
The Influence and Effects of the Politics, Information and Communication Mix
 , pp. 246 - 272
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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