Mark Scott
*@markscott82*
OK, so the sanctions on Russian state media appear to be having an impact. Over last 24 hours, OK, so the sanctions on Russian state media appear to be having an impact. Over last 24 hours, Facebook engagement for Kremlin outlets dropped 12% — note massive drop for RT France.
BUT — engagement for Western media also fell 10%.
Wedaddy @wedaddy
Notice how nobody is doing anything about RT Arabic.. the West will come to regret this. Big swaths of Arab public opinion are high on Kremlin propaganda
On the third night of the invasion i was talking to friends at a social gathering. I was the odd one out. Everyone was showing me RT Arabic propaganda about Ukraine. I learned a valuable lesson: Russian propaganda leverages effectively anger at the Iraq war to Arab audiences
With Arab audiences, Kremlin propaganda plays an effective game: "If America can flaunt international norms, why can't Putin do it?", Or "Ukraine is a Russian province that the West egged on against Russia." "When did the West ever face consequences for the Iraq war, Palestine?"
Basically, what Kremlin propaganda does is play with Arab grievances against the West rather than anything else. What i found works is bringing up Putin's war in Syria, his double-sided dealings with Assad/Iran/Israel. However the propaganda has been at play for years..
The other reaction I got was: "Both Russia and the West will kill us and get away with it. Why should we care when we see footage of Ukrainian soldiers dipping bullets in pig fat to kill Muslim Chechens. They ALL hate us, Russians, Ukrainians and Westerners."
Also, something that came up frequently was the images of fleeing Blacks and Arabs being prevented from exiting Ukraine or entering Poland. This is the aspect that got most attention in the Arab world more than the rest of the war.
In other words, people in the Arab world, like any other region, will view the same event from their own vantage point, and will filter it through their own recent history. Effective propaganda leverages the quintessential rule: know your audience, and cater to it.
The most interesting answer I got in that discussion: "look this is not our war. Let them sort it among themselves. They'll end up starving us all if wheat prices don't stop rising"
I've noticed this and have been concerned.
The Kremlin are targeting international fractures in very particular ways (and have done for a few years).
In the last few days there's definitely been trying to drive a wedge between the Anglosphere and European countries. (Not helped by unwillingness to add proper clout to sanctions...). And there's definitely one going on between the West and Rest of the World (particularly arab world).
Worth keeping a close eye on. Crazy shit sticks.