How Russia employs ‘hard soft power’ to influence overseas media and sow dissent and fear among foreign populations
- Written by Catherine Luther, Professor of Journalism & Media, University of Tennessee
Inside the studio during an RT broadcast.Misha Friedman/Getty ImagesPublic diplomacy – the art of rallying a foreign audience behind a nation’s interests – used to be about attracting support through charm, values and cultural exports. It is what political scientist Joseph Nye first referred to as “soft power.”
But our...


