#105 Tom Kent on Persuasion in the Developing World

Jul 19, 2022

Tom Kent, a seasoned expert on Russian affairs and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, dives deep into persuasion strategies in the developing world. He sheds light on Russia's influence operations post-Ukraine invasion, revealing the skepticism many developing nations hold toward the West. Kent also discusses the resilience of advocacy movements for democracy and the challenges faced by media organizations in countering misinformation. His insights underscore the complexity of global narratives and the need for cohesive strategies in the information landscape.

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Intro

00:00 • 4min

Russia's Influence in Developing Nations

04:22 • 15min

Advocacy and Coordination in Global Media

19:52 • 7min

Hope and Struggle for Freedom in the Developing World

26:57 • 2min

Examining Failures in Russian Influence Operations

28:32 • 2min

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

During this episode, Tom Kent returns to discuss the developing world. After reviewing Russia’s influence efforts in the early portion of the Ukraine War, Tom provides a rather sober assessment of information operations being directed at the developing world. Additionally, Tom believes that developing countries view Western nations with skepticism due to hypocrisy.

Resources:

Cognitive Crucible Podcast Episodes Mentioned
- #10 Tom Kent on Striking Back
- #56 Bob Jones on Governance
Russian Propagandists Regain Footing on Ukraine by Tom Kent
Radio to Russia Can Old Technologies Make a Dent in Putin’s Information Blockade by Tom Kent

Link to full show notes and resources

https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-105

Guest Bio:

Tom Kent teaches about Russian affairs and disinformation at Columbia University. He was president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty until 2018. Previously, he was Moscow bureau chief, international editor and standards editor of The Associated Press. He consults on disinformation, journalism and ethics for government, non-governmental organizations, media, and corporate clients. He is also the author of: Striking Back: Overt and Covert Options to Combat Russian Disinformation, which was published in September 2020.

About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

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