Gendered War Narratives: Ukrainian Digital Diplomacy vs. Russian Propaganda and its Echoes in Germany

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, the international information space is rife with disinformation. Among various forms of false narratives promoted by Russia, scholars and practitioners have highlighted the Kremlin’s use of gendered propaganda. These misogynist and queerphobic narratives add another layer to the increased physical sexual violence at play. How has Russian gendered propaganda and disinformation manifested in the Ukraine war and what has been the response of Ukrainian public diplomacy to these attacks? How do similar narratives reach Germany and how to protect its targets?

In the upcoming Weizenbaum Forum we will outline Russian gendered propaganda and disinformation during the war in Ukraine and share insights into the gendered dimensions of Ukrainian digital diplomacy to counter Russian narratives. Together we will explore the complex gendered dynamics at play in contemporary information warfare. We will also discuss how misogynist and queer-phobic narratives spread to Germany, and what can be done to counter them, including need for further regulation. 

Please register here for the event.

Our guests:

• Valentyna Shapovalova (PhD fellow at the University of Copenhagen)
• Alexandra Pavliuc (PhD candidate at the Oxford Internet Institute and visiting fellow at the Weizenbaum Institute)
• Josephine Ballon (CEO HateAid)
• Oberstleutnant i.G. Aldo Kleemann, M.A. (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik)

Moderation:

• Martha Stolze (Research Associate Weizenbaum Institute)