Russian influence operations: a problem or not?
The worsening tensions between Russia and the West in the 2010s were followed by an increase in documented cases of Russian influence operations towards several countries. The most well-known case, the Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, resulted in several years of investigations and a rise in distrust for the political system among members of the electorate. However, there are many cases where the outcome has not been as dramatic. In this seminar, Martin Kragh, a researcher with the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and Uppsala University, will discuss the history and strategy of Russian influence activities - with a particular focus on the Nordic countries. What may be said of their potential impact? Why is Russia engaging in these activites? And have the strategies towards the Nordic countries been different in comparison to the broader trends?