Nabila Jaffer
Ms Nabila Jaffer is a Research Analyst at the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad.
DOI: http://DOI Number
Keywords: Post-modernism age, modern statecraft, realpolitik, information technology, digital media, fake networks, disinformation warfare, favourable perception, political advantage
Abstract
The revolutionary development and spread of information technology added a new dimension to domestic and external political relations. In modern statecraft, media has been the biggest facilitator of implanting and diffusing public narratives. Information resources have also become instruments of power for states, primarily motivated by realpolitik. In the given circumstances, creating fake news, disinformation, or exaggeration of information has become an instrument of conducting statecraft. This practice largely compromises the fundamental ethics of journalism. Additionally, with the rapid development of modern communication tools, the means for achieving state interests have also diversified. Fake news and disinformation are now increasingly manifest in internal politics and the advancement of interests across borders. In this post-truth era, states must be capable of responding to the challenges created by such disinformation. This paper discusses the incidents of disinformation in major powers like China, the United States, Russia, India, and Pakistan. The paper also debates the moral and ethical dimension of fake news and disinformation in modern statecraft by mainly analysing the practice whilst employing a realist approach.
First Published
March 25, 2021
How to Cite
Nabila Jaffer, “Fake News and Disinformation in Modern Statecraft,” Regional Studies 39, no.1 (Spring 2021): 3-33, https://regionalstudies.com.pk/wp/article/fake-news-and-disinformation-in-modern-statecraft/
Issue
Volume 39, Issue 1