Echoes of Authoritarianism: Russia's Propaganda in China's Digital Realm

• In Event: Foreign Influence Operations, Propaganda, and Sharp Power

Abstract

This study explores the dynamics of Russian information operations on Chinese social media and how these operations influence public opinion within authoritarian regimes like China. It shifts focus from the impact of authoritarian propaganda in democracies to its effectiveness within like-minded authoritarian states. We posit that the resonance of Russian narratives with the Chinese audience is not uniform but significantly influenced by both the specific content of these narratives and the context of current geopolitical events, such as the Russo-Ukrainian War. Utilizing a dataset comprising tweets from key Russian media outlets on China’s Sina Weibo, the study uncovers a pattern of heightened public engagement with narratives emphasizing Western threats during significant events like the Russo-Ukrainian War. These findings underscore a complex and dynamic interaction between state-led propaganda, public response, and external geopolitical events and enrich our understanding about Russia's sharp power.

Authors

• Ming Ma, Free University Berlin

• Genia Kostka, Freie Universität Berlin

• Alexander Libman, Freie Universität Berlin