Discussion on Irregular Warfare Podcast: Manipulation of Stories as a Powerful Tactical Tool
In the latest episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, Dr. Andrew Whiskeyman, an associate professor at the National Defense University's College of Information and Cyberspace, discusses the pressing issue of foreign information operations in the age of information warfare. Joining him is Dr. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London and a fellow at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, author of 'Subversion: The Strategic Weaponization of Narratives'.
Dr. Whiskeyman, who previously served as the chief of the Information Operations Division within US Central Command, sheds light on the topics of leadership, disruptive technology, and information warfare. He emphasises the importance of combining multilateral intelligence cooperation, legal transparency measures, election protections, public information resilience, and foreign policy support to effectively counter increasingly sophisticated foreign information operations in the digital age.
One such example of multilateral cooperation is the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), established in 2018, which brings together intelligence and expertise across member countries to assess evolving threat vectors such as cyber operations and electoral interference, enabling timely and unified responses especially during major elections.
Legal transparency measures, such as the European Commission’s proposed ‘Directive on Transparency of Interest Representation on behalf of Third Countries’, aim to increase transparency regarding lobbying activities by foreign entities. Although critics doubt its full effectiveness, such legislative tools represent an important step in exposing covert foreign influence campaigns.
Strengthening the fairness and integrity of elections is critical. The EU’s “European Democracy Shield” initiative targets foreign manipulation and interference by developing comprehensive preparedness strategies, including monitoring misinformation cases and balancing electoral protection with freedom of expression. Support mechanisms for journalists and researchers working under hostile conditions are also emphasized.
Democracies need to proactively build societal resilience against disinformation by fostering media literacy, promoting credible information sources, and encouraging citizen awareness about foreign influence tactics. This implies moving from fragmented defense toward sustained, multidimensional countermeasures leveraging partnerships, technological innovation, and credible communication channels.
The United States integrates counter-disinformation and democracy promotion in its foreign policy to help partner countries inoculate their political systems against authoritarian malign influence, including corruption and electoral subversion. This global effort highlights the importance of demonstrating the benefits of democracy while combating illiberal interference.
The Irregular Warfare Podcast can be listened to below or found on various platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify, and other favourite podcast apps. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the podcast to not miss an episode.
- Dr. Whiskeyman discusses the significance of leadership in the realm of disruptive technology and information warfare, advocating for a combined approach that includes multilateral intelligence cooperation, legal transparency measures, election protections, public information resilience, and foreign policy support.
- The G7 Rapid Response Mechanism, established in 2018, serves as an example of multilateral cooperation, bringing together intelligence and expertise from member countries to assess evolving threat vectors such as cyber operations and electoral interference.
- The European Commission’s proposed ‘Directive on Transparency of Interest Representation on behalf of Third Countries’ is aimed at increasing transparency regarding lobbying activities by foreign entities, representing an important step in exposing covert foreign influence campaigns.
- In the wake of increasing foreign manipulation and interference in elections, the EU’s “European Democracy Shield” initiative focuses on developing comprehensive preparedness strategies, including monitoring misinformation cases, balancing electoral protection with freedom of expression, and supporting journalists and researchers working under hostile conditions.
