Influence of geopolitical and informational confrontations on Russian state policy

Abstract

The geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the United States has always taken place, but now it has become particularly acute, given the transformation of the structure of international relations. Our country, which occupies one-eighth of the globe's landmass and has the second-strongest army in the world, is embroiled in a number of information and hybrid conflicts. The «collective West» has launched an open economic, sanction, technological, and information war against Russia. Combining the capabilities of electronic and cyber warfare, information operations and electronic intelligence, both for offensive and defensive purposes, is a new trend in the industry. It is important to emphasize that global sales of electronic warfare systems will grow by an average of 4.5 % per year by 2027 and reach $ 24 billion. It is expected that as a result of the wider use of cyber technologies, the tactics of warfare will change. Certainly, it is important to try to find a balance between security and proactive foreign policy of the state in the information space. In the new geopolitical conditions, various methods of information warfare, in particular fake news, represent a real ideological danger, and the development of social networks and the emergence of artificial technologies are increasingly reinforcing this phenomenon. The explosion of disinformation regarding the policy of the Russian state, which is flowing into the world media space thanks to Western political technologists, has begun to lead to concerns about the destabilization of democracy and ideological division in the country. However, Russia managed to resist and now needs to develop countermeasures. The influence of virtual space on the regional, national, and international political processes determines the desire of modern states to develop and use new technological resources. The analysis of political research on the problems of information and ideological confrontation led to the conclusion that the information war is aimed at destabilizing society, destroying its mental foundations and traditional guidelines. The main strategic goal of the information war is to lead society to an ideological split and cause an increase in citizens' distrust of the institutions of state power and the army. The authors of this article have identified the key mechanisms of information confrontation and ways of media provocations against Russia in the new geopolitical conditions.