Academic Workshop : Information Manipulation and Cognitive Warfare in Europe

In the context of ongoing war, digital media saturation, and deep political polarisation, information has become a strategic instrument of influence. This issue was at the center of the policy workshop “Information Manipulations and Cognitive Warfare: New Insecurities for Estonia and Europe,” held in Tallinn on December 8, 2025.

Organised by the Johan Skytte Institute for Political Studies at the University of Tartu in cooperation with Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event brought together scholars, policymakers, journalists, and security experts to examine how post-truth narratives and information disorder are reshaping European security.

The event was held as part of the research project “Russian and Pro-Russian Narratives in Estonia: from Threat Denial to Normalization of War”, examining how these narratives evolve from outright denial of threats to the gradual normalisation of the Russian-Ukrainian War. Rather than treating disinformation as a technical problem, invited experts approached it as a contemporary challenge to democratic societies, one that exploits cognitive biases, emotional triggers, and existing social divides.

A key focus was the concept of cognitive warfare: the deliberate manipulation of perceptions, identities, and interpretations of reality. Unlike traditional propaganda, contemporary information manipulation often blurs the line between truth and falsehood, relying on conspiratorial thinking and selective framing to erode trust in institutions and democratic norms.

The first panel discussed European experiences of information disorder in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dr. Carme Colomina (CIDOB), Dr. Yulia Kurnyshova (University of Helsinki), and Daniela Monsportova(Charles University), with discussion moderated by Konstantin Eggert MBE (Deutsche Welle), explored how the war has intensified information manipulation across Europe, including in countries far from the battlefield. Speakers emphasised that disinformation rarely travels unchanged. Instead, external narratives gain influence by adapting to local political, social, and media environments, highlighting the need for cross-border learning and more coordinated European responses.

The second panel focused on Russophone narratives outside Russia, with particular attention to Estonia. Maia Klaassen (University of Tartu), Dr. Mari-Liis Jakobson (University of Tallinn), and Dr. Andrey Makarychev (University of Tartu), moderated by James Sherr OBE (International Centre for Defence and Security), discussed how language, identity, historical memory, and domestic inequalities shape the reception of information narratives. Rather than framing Russophone communities as passive recipients of influence, the discussion highlighted their diversity and agency, stressing that effective policy responses must balance security considerations with social inclusion.

The workshop concluded with a book launch discussion featuring two recent edited volumes: Studying Russia’s Wars: Academic Stocktaking in Times of Uncertainty (Brill, 2025), edited by Yulia Kurnyshova and Andrey Makarychev, and Russian Influence Operations and the War in Ukraine: Hybrid Warfare and Disinformation Campaigns (Springer, 2025), co-edited by Vladimir Sazonov. The discussion highlighted the challenges of conducting academic research during ongoing conflict and reaffirmed the importance of scholarship for evidence-based policy responses.

The organisers thank all speakers and participants for their engaged discussions, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia and partner institutions for their support.