approfondimento - Information Management - # Academic Integrity & Propaganda

Russian Propaganda in International Academic Publishing: The Case of Misrepresented Ukrainian Territories

Q: What strategies can international academic organizations and publishers implement to counter the spread of misinformation and propaganda, particularly in contexts of geopolitical conflict?

International academic organizations and publishers can implement a multi-pronged approach to combat the spread of misinformation and propaganda: Data Verification and Source Monitoring: Implement stricter verification processes for author affiliations and research data. This includes cross-referencing affiliations with reliable databases, scrutinizing funding sources for potential biases, and flagging suspicious submissions for further review. Transparency and Disclaimers: Require clear disclosures of funding sources, potential conflicts of interest, and any political affiliations of authors. Publishers can include disclaimers on articles and publications originating from regions experiencing geopolitical conflict, stating their neutrality on territorial claims while adhering to internationally recognized borders. Editorial Board Diversity and Awareness: Promote geographic and ideological diversity within editorial boards to ensure a balanced review process. Conduct workshops and training for editors and reviewers on identifying and addressing propaganda and bias in research. Collaboration with Fact-Checking Organizations: Partner with independent fact-checking organizations to verify information presented in research, particularly in politically sensitive areas. Sanctions and Accountability: Establish clear consequences for researchers and institutions found guilty of knowingly disseminating propaganda or misinformation. This could include retractions, publication bans, and reputational sanctions. Promoting Media Literacy: Develop resources and training programs for researchers and the public on media literacy, critical thinking, and identifying misinformation.

Q: Could the identified bias in academic publications be indicative of a broader, more subtle influence campaign by Russia within the global scientific community?

Yes, the identified bias in academic publications, as exemplified by the misrepresentation of Ukrainian territories, could be a part of a broader, more subtle influence campaign by Russia. This strategy aims to: Legitimize Territorial Claims: By consistently presenting occupied territories as part of Russia in academic publications, Russia seeks to normalize these claims within the global scientific community and beyond. Undermine Ukrainian Sovereignty: Misrepresenting Ukrainian institutions and researchers further isolates Ukrainian academia and undermines its standing in the international community. Control the Narrative: Disseminating biased research aligns with Russia's broader disinformation campaigns, aiming to influence global perceptions and create confusion about the realities of the conflict. This subtle approach leverages the perceived neutrality and authority of academic publications to advance geopolitical goals.

Q: How can researchers and academics ensure the objectivity and integrity of their work, particularly when collaborating with institutions or individuals from countries with a history of propaganda?

Researchers and academics bear a crucial responsibility to uphold objectivity and integrity, especially when collaborating internationally: Due Diligence and Background Checks: Conduct thorough research on potential collaborators and institutions, scrutinizing their affiliations, past publications, and any potential political ties. Data Transparency and Sharing: Ensure transparency in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Encourage open data practices and share research data for independent verification. Critical Analysis of Information: Approach information, particularly from sources with a history of propaganda, with a critical eye. Cross-reference information with multiple reputable sources. Open Communication and Ethical Guidelines: Establish clear communication channels with collaborators and agree on ethical guidelines for research conduct and publication. Peer Review and Replication: Subject research to rigorous peer review and encourage replication studies to validate findings and identify potential biases. Awareness and Advocacy: Stay informed about geopolitical contexts and potential propaganda efforts. Advocate for academic freedom and ethical research practices within your institutions and professional networks. By adhering to these principles, researchers can help safeguard the integrity of scientific knowledge and prevent its manipulation for political purposes.

Concetti Chiave

Russia systematically leverages international academic platforms, including journals, databases, and conferences, to legitimize its annexation of Ukrainian territories by misrepresenting affiliations and spreading biased narratives.

Sintesi

This research paper investigates and exposes the systematic dissemination of Russian propaganda through reputable international academic channels. The authors focus on the misrepresentation of Ukrainian territories as part of the Russian Federation within academic publications, particularly in the Scopus database and Springer journals.

Key Findings:

Misrepresentation of Affiliations: A significant number of publications, especially those from Russian-affiliated institutions, falsely list Ukrainian cities like Donetsk, Lugansk, and those in Crimea as belonging to Russia. This practice is prevalent across various disciplines.
Publisher Responsibility: While databases like Scopus claim neutrality by reflecting the information provided, the onus falls on publishers like Springer Nature and MDPI who accept and publish these misrepresentations.
Conferences and Editorial Boards: The issue extends to international conferences held in occupied territories and editorial boards featuring members with misrepresented affiliations, further normalizing the false narrative.
Beyond Scopus: The problem is not limited to Scopus; other platforms like Web of Science, SSRN, arXiv, and ResearchGate also exhibit similar patterns of misrepresentation.
Propaganda Narratives: The paper identifies numerous instances of academic papers, even in Western journals, that justify the annexation of Crimea and propagate pro-Russian narratives about the conflict.

Significance:

The study highlights a concerning breach of academic integrity where a geopolitical agenda is being advanced through the manipulation of scholarly publications. This undermines the credibility of research and necessitates a robust response from the international academic community.

Limitations and Future Research:

The research primarily focuses on Scopus and Springer, suggesting a need for broader investigation across other databases and publishers. Further research could explore the impact of this propaganda on academic discourse and the effectiveness of potential countermeasures.

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Statistiche

Over 22,000 sanctions are active against Russia.
Over 90% of publications originating from Crimean cities (occupied in 2014) in the Scopus database affiliate them with Russia.
Approximately 65% of publications from Donetsk and 50% from Lugansk (occupied in 2014, claimed annexation in 2022) in Scopus affiliate them with Russia.
Springer Nature/Pleiades publishes over 200 English-language journals originating from the former USSR.
In 2023, over 30% of publications misrepresenting Ukrainian city affiliations in Scopus were published by international publishers, with Springer Nature/Pleiades leading the list.

Citazioni

"When displaying third party data in the product, Scopus does not make changes to the data and remains true to the original source and the information and data is shown as such.”
"While the AAS journals adhere to and respect UN resolutions regarding the designations of territories (available at http://www.un.org/press/en), it is our policy to use the affiliations provided by our authors on published articles.”
"Crimea and the City of Sevastopol justifiably separated from Ukraine and reunified with the Russian Federation in 2014.”

Approfondimenti chiave tratti da

Science vs Propaganda: The case of Russia

by Oleksii Plas... alle arxiv.org 10-15-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.10274.pdf

Science vs Propaganda: The case of Russia

Domande più approfondite

What strategies can international academic organizations and publishers implement to counter the spread of misinformation and propaganda, particularly in contexts of geopolitical conflict?

International academic organizations and publishers can implement a multi-pronged approach to combat the spread of misinformation and propaganda:

Data Verification and Source Monitoring: Implement stricter verification processes for author affiliations and research data. This includes cross-referencing affiliations with reliable databases, scrutinizing funding sources for potential biases, and flagging suspicious submissions for further review.
Transparency and Disclaimers:  Require clear disclosures of funding sources, potential conflicts of interest, and any political affiliations of authors. Publishers can include disclaimers on articles and publications originating from regions experiencing geopolitical conflict, stating their neutrality on territorial claims while adhering to internationally recognized borders.
Editorial Board Diversity and Awareness: Promote geographic and ideological diversity within editorial boards to ensure a balanced review process. Conduct workshops and training for editors and reviewers on identifying and addressing propaganda and bias in research.
Collaboration with Fact-Checking Organizations: Partner with independent fact-checking organizations to verify information presented in research, particularly in politically sensitive areas.
Sanctions and Accountability: Establish clear consequences for researchers and institutions found guilty of knowingly disseminating propaganda or misinformation. This could include retractions, publication bans, and reputational sanctions.
Promoting Media Literacy:  Develop resources and training programs for researchers and the public on media literacy, critical thinking, and identifying misinformation.

Could the identified bias in academic publications be indicative of a broader, more subtle influence campaign by Russia within the global scientific community?

Yes, the identified bias in academic publications, as exemplified by the misrepresentation of Ukrainian territories, could be a part of a broader, more subtle influence campaign by Russia. This strategy aims to:

Legitimize Territorial Claims: By consistently presenting occupied territories as part of Russia in academic publications, Russia seeks to normalize these claims within the global scientific community and beyond.
Undermine Ukrainian Sovereignty:  Misrepresenting Ukrainian institutions and researchers further isolates Ukrainian academia and undermines its standing in the international community.
Control the Narrative:  Disseminating biased research aligns with Russia's broader disinformation campaigns, aiming to influence global perceptions and create confusion about the realities of the conflict.
This subtle approach leverages the perceived neutrality and authority of academic publications to advance geopolitical goals.

How can researchers and academics ensure the objectivity and integrity of their work, particularly when collaborating with institutions or individuals from countries with a history of propaganda?

Researchers and academics bear a crucial responsibility to uphold objectivity and integrity, especially when collaborating internationally:

Due Diligence and Background Checks: Conduct thorough research on potential collaborators and institutions, scrutinizing their affiliations, past publications, and any potential political ties.
Data Transparency and Sharing: Ensure transparency in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Encourage open data practices and share research data for independent verification.
Critical Analysis of Information:  Approach information, particularly from sources with a history of propaganda, with a critical eye. Cross-reference information with multiple reputable sources.
Open Communication and Ethical Guidelines: Establish clear communication channels with collaborators and agree on ethical guidelines for research conduct and publication.
Peer Review and Replication:  Subject research to rigorous peer review and encourage replication studies to validate findings and identify potential biases.
Awareness and Advocacy: Stay informed about geopolitical contexts and potential propaganda efforts. Advocate for academic freedom and ethical research practices within your institutions and professional networks.
By adhering to these principles, researchers can help safeguard the integrity of scientific knowledge and prevent its manipulation for political purposes.