WHOSE STRATEGIC NARRATIVE? THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIETAL SECURITY
WHOSE STRATEGIC NARRATIVE? THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIETAL SECURITY

Summary/Abstract: Strategic narratives are descriptions and interpretations of events of the world from the perspective of agents in international relations. They offer a justification for the agent’s actions and ambitions and ensure cohesion and support within the agent’s community. The article shortly summarises major changes caused by modern technology in the formation and projection of strategic narratives, then discusses reception in detail. In the investigation of strategic narratives, projection got into the focus at the beginning of the digital age and only recently has attention turned towards reception, that is, impact on society. The theoretical background of societal security originating from the Copenhagen School allows an overview of the vulnerabilities of modern communities to disinformation, also highlighting the trans-sectoral nature of the threats. The conclusion of the paper is that modern liberal democracies are at a disadvantage in developing protection against disinformation because of their fundamental values. The privatization of media outlets was welcomed a few decades ago and the concentration of media ownership was not deemed dangerous. However, if media is securitized, the increase of control may be necessary, otherwise maintaining cohesion through one’s own strategic narrative and blocking rival strategic narrative may become impossible.

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