Global Security and Intelligence Studies
This article instead argues that there is a new Cold War , that Russia has a somewhat consistent ideology , and that it has to be taken seriously as an alternative model of society and an alternative vision of world order . The new ideology underlies the new Cold War and is used offensively in Russia ’ s political warfare against the West . But it would be an enormous simplification to call Russian ideology fascist or to assume that Russia new ideology would only be attractive to fascists and social misfits . Unless this new Cold War is properly understood as a “ war of ideas ” and unless Russia ’ s ideology is adequately addressed in the Western counterpropaganda , the West will not be able to persevere , as Western governments will be increasingly outmaneuvered by Russian information warfare . The article will sketch the key elements of Russian ideology and explain how it connects to political movements in the West .
Ideology and Political Warfare
The term “ ideology ” was coined by Count Antoine Destutt de Tracy in the
late eighteenth century . He understood ideology as scientific “ system of truths closely tied together ” about the social and political order that is empirically verifiable ( Steger 2008 , 19 – 24 ). The concept has been reinterpreted by many philosophers to mean many things . Michael Freeden proposed a definition of ideology as “ a set of ideas , beliefs , opinions , and values that ( 1 ) exhibit a recurring pattern ( 2 ) are held by significant groups ( 3 ) compete over providing and controlling plans public policy ( 4 ) do so with the aim of justifying , contesting or changing the social and political arrangements and processes of a political community ” ( Freeden 2003 , 32 ). The main ideologies of the twentieth century were liberalism , communism , and fascism . After the defeat of fascism at the end of World War II , the main ideological competition that remained was between American liberalism and Russian / Soviet communism . According to Manfred B . Steger , “[ i ] deology [ in the Cold War ] functioned as a critical factor in an epic contest that was just as much about showcasing the global applicability of liberal or communist ideas and values as it was about economics or geopolitics ” ( Steger 2008 , 135 ).
The Cold War was fundamentally ideological in nature and was fought primarily by political means rather than by military engagements , which has been described as “ political warfare .” The term “ political warfare ” originates from the Second World War era , although the practice is much older ( Hancock 2018 , 12 – 13 ). It relates primarily to the use of propaganda , disinformation , and psyops aimed at weakening an enemy society , enemy forces , an enemy ’ s ability to form and maintain alliances , and enemy decision making . The term was popularized by the American diplomat George Kennan , who suggested that it would include “ overt actions as political alliances , economic measures ( as ERP ), and ‘ white ’ propaganda to such covert operations as clandestine support to ‘ friendly ’ foreign elements , ‘ black ’ psychological warfare and even the encouragement of underground resistance in hostile states ” ( Kennan 1948 ). According to Kintner and Kornfelder ,
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