The Role of Economic Messaging in Russia's Public Diplomacy Efforts on Facebook

מושגי ליבה

Russia uses economic messaging as a key strategy in its public diplomacy efforts on Facebook, targeting specific audiences through language-based accounts and adapting content to changing economic contexts like currency values and oil prices.

תקציר

This study examines Russia's use of economic messaging in its public diplomacy efforts on Facebook over the past five years. The analysis reveals several key insights:

Economic content makes up 7% of Russia's total Facebook posts across its non-Russian language accounts. The most prominent economic topics include "Recent News Headlines", "US-Russia-Ukraine Sanctions", and "COVID-19 Pandemic and Related Issues".

Russia's economic messaging strategy on Facebook is tailored to specific language-based audiences. For example, RT en Español focused heavily on cryptocurrency, while RT Arabic did not cover the Afghanistan conflict. This suggests targeted audience engagement.

Changes in the value of the Russian ruble and global oil prices correspond to shifts in the prominence of certain economic topics on RT's Facebook pages. This indicates Russia adapts its economic messaging to changing economic contexts.

Major external events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict also impacted the volume and focus of RT's economic content on Facebook, with increased attention to sanctions and pandemic-related economic issues.

Overall, the study demonstrates that economic messaging is a core component of Russia's public diplomacy strategy on social media, with nuanced targeting and responsiveness to economic conditions. This suggests economics plays a key role in Russia's efforts to shape global narratives and influence foreign publics.

סטטיסטיקה

"To use the dollar as a tool of foreign policy struggle is one of the biggest strategic mistakes made by the US political leadership. The dollar is the cornerstone of the United States power."
"The 2016 Brexit referendum led to the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union in 2019, causing a significant depreciation not only in the British Pound but also in the US, Australian, and Canadian Dollars."
"Multiple factors affect a nation's currency values including inflation, political stability levels, macroeconomic indicators (e.g., interest rates, public debt levels, central bank intervention, etc.), and appreciation or depreciation of powerful global currencies (such as the US Dollar, Euro, British Pound, and Kuwaiti Dinar)."
"The prominent placement of oil prices in global priorities has emerged from correlations between oil prices and levels of global peace and conflict, the role of state and international organizations in managing supply and demand, the diverse interests of various actors in energy policy ranging from governments to businesses and environmental groups, and shifts in global demand and supply structures such as the increasing demand from countries like Russia and China."

ציטוטים

"To use the dollar as a tool of foreign policy struggle is one of the biggest strategic mistakes made by the US political leadership. The dollar is the cornerstone of the United States power."
"The 2016 Brexit referendum led to the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union in 2019, causing a significant depreciation not only in the British Pound but also in the US, Australian, and Canadian Dollars."

תובנות מפתח מזוקקות מ:

The Economy and Public Diplomacy: An Analysis of RT's Economic Content and Context on Facebook

by Ayse D. Lokm... ב- arxiv.org 05-06-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.01798.pdf

שאלות מעמיקות

How might Russia's economic messaging on Facebook influence global financial markets and investor behavior?

Russia's economic messaging on Facebook can have a significant impact on global financial markets and investor behavior. By disseminating information about economic policies, currency values, oil prices, and geopolitical events, Russia can shape perceptions and create narratives that influence market sentiment. For example, if Russia consistently portrays itself as a stable economic power with strong currency reserves, it could attract foreign investment and bolster confidence in the Russian economy. Conversely, negative messaging about economic sanctions or currency devaluation could lead to market volatility and investor uncertainty. The repeated reinforcement of certain economic narratives can create a perception that may affect investment decisions and market trends.

To what extent do other state-sponsored media outlets like China's CGTN or Iran's Press employ similar economic messaging strategies on social media?

Other state-sponsored media outlets like China's CGTN and Iran's Press also employ similar economic messaging strategies on social media platforms. These outlets use social media to disseminate information about economic policies, trade relations, currency values, and global economic events to shape public perceptions and influence international audiences. Just like Russia's RT, these media outlets use economic content as a tool for public diplomacy, promoting their countries' economic interests, challenging Western narratives, and shaping global discourse on economic issues. By targeting specific audiences and reinforcing key economic messages, these outlets aim to enhance their countries' soft power and influence on the global stage.

What are the potential long-term societal impacts of Russia's repeated economic narratives and their ability to shape public perceptions of global economic dynamics?

The repeated economic narratives propagated by Russia through platforms like Facebook can have significant long-term societal impacts and shape public perceptions of global economic dynamics. By consistently framing economic issues in a certain light, Russia can influence how individuals, communities, and nations perceive economic events, policies, and relationships. This can lead to the normalization of specific economic narratives, the reinforcement of certain beliefs, and the shaping of public opinion on economic matters. Over time, these narratives can impact public trust in institutions, attitudes towards economic policies, and even political decision-making. Additionally, Russia's ability to shape public perceptions of global economic dynamics can contribute to the polarization of opinions, the spread of misinformation, and the amplification of economic tensions between nations. Ultimately, these narratives can have far-reaching consequences on international relations, economic cooperation, and societal stability.