Russian Public-Diplomacy Efforts to Influence Neighbors: Media Messaging Supports Hard-Power Projection in Ukraine and Georgia

Authors

  • Maureen Taylor University of Technology Sydney
  • Natalie M. Rice Independent Researcher
  • Oleg Manaev Independent Researcher
  • Catherine A. Luther University of Tennessee
  • Suzie L. Allard University of Tennessee
  • R. Alexander Bentley University of Tennessee
  • Joshua Borycz Vanderbilt University
  • Benjamin D. Horne University of Tenneseee
  • Brandon C. Prins University of Tennessee

Keywords:

Georgia, public diplomacy, media, Russia, soft and hard power, Ukraine

Abstract

Nations use media to disseminate stories about their culture, history, and values. This study explored Russian public-diplomacy efforts by examining news content exported to its neighbors, Ukraine and Georgia, from February 2021 to July 2021, approximately one year before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We looked at pro-Russia media that targeted Russian-speaking Georgians and Ukrainians showing that Russian public-diplomacy messaging was not so much about Russia, as it was about anti-Western frames. Local pro-Russia media in Ukraine and Georgia repeated these anti-Western frames in their news coverage. These anti-Western frames provide insight into the messaging before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, thus contributing unique insights into public-diplomacy messaging for theorizing soft and hard power.

Author Biographies

Maureen Taylor, University of Technology Sydney

Original PI on the MINERVA grant

Natalie M. Rice, Independent Researcher

Research Associate MINERVA Research Project

Oleg Manaev, Independent Researcher

 MINERVA Reserach Project

Catherine A. Luther, University of Tennessee

Director, Information Integrity Institute, College of Communication & Information, University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleLead PI on the MINERVA grant

Suzie L. Allard, University of Tennessee

Associate Dean of ResearchCollege of Communication and Information University of Tennessee

R. Alexander Bentley, University of Tennessee

Professor Dept of Anthropology

Joshua Borycz, Vanderbilt University

Assistant Professor Computer Science

Benjamin D. Horne, University of Tenneseee

Assistant Professor Information science

Brandon C. Prins, University of Tennessee

Director Political Science Department

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Published

2024-05-14

Issue

Section

Articles