Truth until Ptoven Otherwise: The Renarrative and its Possible (In)Uses in Journalistc Headlines Today

Last modified by ruslana m on 2025/05/19 12:36

The current assessment examines the organised (dis)information campaign led by pro-Kremlin influence networks against the development of offshore wind energy in Bulgaria. Although the attacks against the development of the sector began already in 2019, when the European Union identified wind energy as the cornerstone of its decarbonisation strategy, it was not before early 2024 that the campaign against offshore wind entered its “hot” phase. The trigger was the attempts of the Bulgarian policy-makers to adapt the country’s legal and regulatory framework to the needs of the sector.

The same pro-Kremlin networks of influence that have been sabotaging Bulgaria's economic and energy security for years have used political, media and civic mechanisms to manipulate public opinion, discredit legislative initiatives and undermine the public support for offshore wind. Key tactics include the dissemination of false claims about the environmental, economic and social risks associated with wind energy, spread by politicians, business associations and media platforms in a highly coordinated manner. [+]

This article presents a methodological framework for analyzing
disinformation narratives, emphasizing the significance of localized
contextualization, particularly the influence of cultural and historical factors
embedded within these narratives. Understanding these elements is crucial for
unpacking the dynamics and power relations present in disinformation discourses.
The study focuses on misleading information regarding Ukrainian refugees in
Bulgaria, a country vulnerable to disinformation yet often overlooked in research,
partly due to its linguistic context. Additionally, the paper advocates for the
application of Gramscian theories of hegemony and the “war of position” as
contextual lenses to enhance the theoretical and methodological framework. This
framework employs a discourse analysis approach, supplemented by Natural
Language Processing (NLP), enabling the capture of critical aspects of
disinformation dynamics and yielding multi-layered, informative, and actionable
insights. [+]

Truth until Ptoven Otherwise: The Renarrative and its Possible (In)Uses in Journalistc Headlines Today

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