It’s not often that genuine examples of Russian propaganda tactics are revealed in Western press. We’re told about it, and we assume the authorities have dealt with it.
It’s tricky to detect, because not all activists are Russian and therefore any Russian activists involved are more tricky to find. They tend to take a role in the background, to protect it.
In recent times, the UK has become a hotbed of political activity, and although most of it was only on the thin end of a debate, due to errant media coverage, it became a dominant narrative arc.
Underneath, more sinister efforts were afoot. In London, a particular operative acting on behalf of the Russia state – in conjunction with Russian media orgs. – ran a campaign of her own.
It affected smaller organisations, official military bodies, and a number of higher profile individuals whose work is less public. It was violently pro-Russian and very anti-UK in its nature.
At the centre of the effort was “Simple Language”, a program designed to refocus political debate on simple terms and definitions, as well as wider narratives across the nation.
Its design was supposed to make it purposeful in politics, media, and law, helping to shape a narrative to ensure that ends were achieved according to the intentions of those involved.
The method hinged on the idea of disagreement, and facts, figures, and faces would be “bumped” to engineer disagreements over normal, natural sentiments that were voiced.
Its effect was aimed at stumping politicians, media pundits, and public figures if they tried to make an argument from a felt belief rather than a technical point, or a point of fact.
