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Understanding Foreign Interference in the Election

Governing: Russia is using Cold War tactics to undermine faith in the coming election, according to a report just released by the Rand Corporation. The aim is to amplify existing fault lines and undermine the consensus that is a bedrock of Democracy, says lead author Marek Posard, Ph.D.

In “From Consensus to Conflict: Understanding Foreign Measures Targeting U.S. Elections,” Posard and his co-authors highlight the concept of “reflexive control,” a technique long used in Russian information warfare that has gained new dimension and power in the Internet age. Rather than attempting to convince groups or parties that they are adversaries, it assumes that conflict already exists and seeks to amplify it, a strategy well-suited to an already discordant election season.

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