Field Report Ep 14 - Spotlight on Russian internal disinformation

Welcome to a new episode of the Field Report's Spotlight Series, brought to you by the students of the 2024 NATO Field School. The Spotlight Series will shine a light on key issues and threats in the landscape of security and defence through expert analysis and in-depth discussions. Disinformation is a hot topic in political discourse—but, what is it? In this instalment of the Field Report, Mishael Abu-Samhan, Sasha Kardos-Machado, Romeo Lions, Grant Mathews, and Emma Nash explore disinformation within Russia. Frequently, Russia is seen as a mass exporter of disinformation, though the biggest consumers are its own population. Tune as we go through the historical context and current tactics of Russian propaganda alongside Sophie Sacilotto, a 2022 NATO Field School alumnus and Russian FIMI research analyst. This episode was created during the 2024 NATO Field School by: Mishael Abu-Samhan, a fourth-year Political Science and Philosophy double major studying at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada. Through his entrepreneurial and academic endeavors, he has been actively contributing to his local, national, and international community. Sasha Kardos-Machado, the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the NATO Field School. She holds a Bachelor Honours in International Studies and Political Studies from Bishop’s University, and currently works in Ottawa, for PAA Advisory | Conseils in their defence practice. Romeo Lions, a French international student who graduated with high distinction from the University of British Columbia (UBC), earning a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. He is an incoming student in the LSE-PKU Double Degree in MSc International Affairs, a joint master's program between the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Peking University (PKU), where he will further his focus on global governance, diplomacy, and international security. Grant Mathews, a third-year student at the University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, where he is majoring in International Relations with minors in Arabic and Religion. He participated in the 2024 NATO Field School and Simulation Program. He comes from Annapolis, Maryland. Emma Nash, a fifth-year student studying Political Science with a minor study in Social Data Analytics at Simon Fraser University. She is heavily involved in the student community through her involvement with the SFU Political Science Union and SFU Social Data Student Union. Our special guest is Sophie Sacilotto, an alumna of the 2022 NATO Field School and recent Masters graduate from the University of Toronto - Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Centre of European and Eurasian Studies. Sophie currently works as a Research Analyst focusing on Russian FIMI. To access the report Sophie discusses, you can find it here: https://stratcomcoe.org/publications/war-on-all-fronts-how-the-kremlins-media-ecosystem-broadcasts-the-war-in-ukraine/301 With special thanks to our Spotlight Series producer, Morgan Cowley.