In this episode of COGWAR, hosts Raymond and James explore the political economy of influence and counter-FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference) institutions. Continuing from Part 1, they dissect a Swedish report on Russia's Operation Double Ganger, a leaked influence campaign by the Social Design Agency. Critiquing it as a \"Western liberal document\" with inherent biases and blind spots, they discuss how Russia fuses military doctrine, intelligence, and ad tech to sow discord, often prioritizing notoriety over efficacy.
The conversation critiques proposals for a European network of counter-FIMI institutions, highlighting issues like free speech implications, lack of strategic goals, platform dependencies on US tech giants, and domestic tensions exploited by adversaries. Drawing on examples from Norway, the UK, and US politics, they question the feasibility of responses, emphasizing the need for evidence-based analysis, trust-building, and sociological awareness in cognitive warfare.
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