Exporting Autocracy: How Foreign Influence Operations Shape Democratic Attitudes
Journal Article Sam Bradshaw Journal Article Sam Bradshaw

Exporting Autocracy: How Foreign Influence Operations Shape Democratic Attitudes

What impact do foreign authoritarian influence operations (FIOs) have on democracy? By some measures, nearly all the hard-won democratic gains from the previous 35 years had disappeared by 2022 (Varieties of Democracy 2023). Since these declines corresponded with a steep increase in disinformation, numerous scholars argue that FIOs contributed to these democratic setbacks (Diamond 2019; Dobson, Masoud, and Walker 2023). Other research has questioned the evidence of such backsliding (Little and Meng 2024; Arriola, Rakner, and Van de Walle 2023), or claimed more generally that information campaigns have only marginal political effects (Eady, Paskhalis, Zilinsky et al. 2023). Through an examination of democratic attitudes in 15 African countries between 2009 and 2023, we present preliminary but compelling evidence that autocrats export authoritarianism.

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Misinformed about Misinformation: On the polarizing discourse on misinformation and its consequences for the field
Sam Bradshaw Sam Bradshaw

Misinformed about Misinformation: On the polarizing discourse on misinformation and its consequences for the field

For almost a decade, the study of misinformation has taken priority among policy circles, political elites, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and the media. Substantial resources have been dedicated to identifying its effects, how and why it spreads, and how to mitigate its harm. Yet, despite these efforts, it can sometimes feel as if the field is no closer to answering basic questions about misinformation’s real-world impacts, such as its effects on elections or links to extremism and radicalization. 

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