Since 2016, there has been intense international scrutiny of Russia’s use of cyber-enabled disinformation and influence campaigns to affect domestic politics of other countries. Analysis has traced uses of viral “fake news” stories and manipulative spread of false, propagandistic, or extremist information to target susceptible populations and exploit societal vulnerabilities – swaying public attitudes, exacerbating ideational cleavages, and sowing doubt in democratic institutions. These incidents are frequently described as “cyberattacks.” Recent changes in U.S.

Reuters Institute seminars “The business and practice of journalism”

The following seminars will be given at 2pm on Wednesdays, normally in the E P Abraham Lecture Theatre, Green Templeton College.
Convenor: Meera Selva

Is it possible to sustain maritime coercion without it escalating into outright war? The paper reviews the posture and activities of the Chinese coast guard and maritime militias to address this question. In so doing, it challenges the widespread notion in the literature that Chinese maritime coercion in the East and South China Seas (ESCS) is best described as a grey zone strategy. The ‘grey zone’ notion uncritically assumes that the use of force is designed to remain below the threshold of war.