The Weaponisation of Distrust and Doubt In Disinformation

Disinformation narratives have sought to exploit CEE’s ambivalence towards the West.

The technological changes in the communication and information ecosystem have coupled in central and eastern Europe (CEE) with historical anxieties, ambivalent public emotions, unfinished modernisation and the European integration processes. This rendered the region a breeding ground for disinformation, conspiracy theories and the like.

Addressing the problem of disinformation in CEE requires people-centric, whole-of-society approaches that go beyond the ‘fear of Russia’ hook. These approaches involve, among other things, massive investments in societal, institutional and individual resilience in order to deal with the mega-changes in the communication and information eco-system. 

This is needed to overcome possible sources of popular resentment created by the uneven distribution of the European integration benefits and close the trust deficit between citizens and their representatives.