Thread by @VladVexler

Experts keep reposting Russia propaganda with their own analysis. Is this a good practice or is it actually cheap voyerisom?

MY TAKE: 1/8

#RussianPropaganda

There is nothing wrong in principe with rehashing Russian propaganda - in fact, it’s important to do it!

But -

Many experts do this badly, leaving their audience morally outraged and reflectively stumped.

2/8

“Russian propaganda says fascist thing number 2839839” is very unhelpful to an audience.

3/8

Half of the audience assumes that Mr Putin ordered this to be said - moral outrage follows.

And the other half assumes it’s said independently and here the pleasures of “inter elite warfare porn” kick in.
4/8

The audience needs context. They need to understand who is speaking and what game - or a multiplicity of games - is being played.

They need to understand that the Russian propaganda machine is both autonomous but also loyal.

5/8

The Russian propaganda machine is a kind of spaceship floating parallel to the Kremlin, trying to serve the Kremlin, but not taking orders from it.

(Recently this independence has been slightly undermined, with the Kremlin issuing requests on occasion)

6/8

There is no doubt that the Russian propaganda machine has a meaningful measure of independent power.

It is like a semi autonomous government department. Broadly loyal, but also prone to unexpressed forays which may displease the Kremlin.
7/8

One last tip - if your favourite expert shares a clip of propaganda speech, but the expert genuinely doesn’t know who is speaking, what their arrangement with the regime is, be slow to draw your conclusions!

8/8