![]() ![]() ![]() This is a striking fact because nowadays Western people are constantly and unconsciously exposed to deception in their daily lives, coming from a variety of sources broadly ranging from advertising messages to films. Up to World War II the Western world also frequently used deception in conflicts, but soon afterwards it rapidly disappeared. It is a relatively cheap way of gaining an advantage over an opponent. Deception includes activities that can take place at all levels. In early warfare deception was a tool used by the savvy individual commander on the battlefield, but it is not only reserved for the tactical level. That puts thinking about deception back on the agenda. ![]() People today often feel fooled and do not know what to believe. ![]() Take, for example, Brexit in 2016, the 20 US elections, the Macron leaks in 2017, and politicians who consistently dismissed critical news aimed at them and their administration as ‘alternative facts’. Soldiers question an unknown person during an exercise. Much has also happened in the West since then, not only between states but also within states themselves that has left decision-makers, media and the public at a loss as to where they stand. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 proved to have been a watershed in the way states interact with each other, but this was not the only event that contributed to great international distrust. In 2018, ‘fake news’ and ‘misinformation’ were amongst the most commonly used words. In 2016, the Oxford Dictionary proclaimed ‘post-truth’ the word of the year. Policy makers of states and international organisations often no longer know where they stand. Mutual trust between states has declined sharply. Recently, the international security situation has changed significantly. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |