Foreign interference in electoral processes as a factor  of international politics: Mechanisms and counteraction

Maia Chechelashvili; Lia Berikashvili; Elisabed Malania

Foreign interference in electoral processes as a factor of international politics: Mechanisms and counteraction

Maia Chechelashvili , Lia Berikashvili , Elisabed Malania

Abstract

The relevance of the study is conditioned by the need to better understand the mechanisms and ways of foreign interference in electoral processes in North America and Europe. This is necessary to develop effective measures to counter attempts to undermine democratic processes and improve them in accordance with the challenges of the digital media era. The purpose of the study is to analyse the current policy of China and the Russian Federation in the sphere of influence on electoral processes in democratic countries, to analyse possible measures to counteract this interference. The following methods were used in the study: heuristic, induction, synthesis, abstract and logical. According to the results of the study, electoral processes in North America and European countries are subject to constant interference from China and Russia, since each of these countries has its own motives for dismantling democracy in these countries. There is an increase in these manipulations due to digitalisation processes. Based on the results of the analysis of manipulation mechanisms, a classification of the types of interference of these states in electoral processes is developed, in particular, three main scenarios of such influence and five types of interference are indicated. It is determined that Russia mostly resorts to manipulating information, implementing the concepts of “post-truth”, and China – to subversive activities in society. There are many measures in both the EU and the US to counter such interference, but most of these measures consist of exposing the interference, spreading such information to the public, and taking technological action. It is concluded that the defence of democracy should be based solely on open and democratic ways of countering foreign interference, and the violation of citizens’ rights will only further undermine faith in democratic values. It is concluded that countering interference in electoral processes, first of all, should be based on informing citizens about the risks of manipulation, media literacy, critical thinking, and readiness for constant political activity. The practical significance of this study is that it will help in developing a strategy for countering foreign interference in democratic processes

Keywords

diplomacy; civil participation; manipulation; vectors of influence; methods of counteraction

References

[1] Akdemir, E. (2020). Chinese strategy towards Europe: The belt and road initiative and 17 + 1 strategy – what does it mean for the EU and Central and Eastern Europe? Studies in European Affairs, 2, 121-145. doi: 10.33067/SE.2.2020/7.

[2] Authoritarian Interference Tracker. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/toolbox/authoritarian-interference-tracker/.

[3] Baezner, M., & Robin, P. (2017). Cyber and Information Warfare in elections in Europe. Zurich: Center for Security Studies.

[4] Bendiek, A., & Schulze, M. (2019). Disinformation and elections to the European Parliament. SWP Comment, 16, 1-8.

[5] Berzina, K., & Soula, E. (2020). Conceptualizing foreign interference in Europe. Retrieved from https:// securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Conceptualizing-Foreign-Interference-in-Europe.pdf.

[6] Big Think. (2021). In Europe, trust in others depends on location. Retrieved from https://bigthink.com/strange-maps/europe-trust-survey/.

[7] Boryslavska, O. (2018). Elections – [un]alternative basis of democracy? Ukrainian Journal of Constitutional Law, 2, 12-19.

[8] Brattberg, E., & Maurer, T. (2018). Russian election interference: Europe’s counter to fake news and cyber attacks. Washington: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

[9] Brenan, M. (2021). Americansʼ trust in government remains low. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/355124/americans-trust-government-remains-low.aspx.

[10] Brutger, R., Chaudoin, S., & Kagan, M. (2022). Trade wars and election interference. The Review of International Organizations, 18(1), 1-25. doi: 10.1007/s11558-022-09464-2.

[11] Buchyn, M.A., & Kitsiak, M.V. (2020). Elections as an object and tool of Hybrid Warfare. History and Political Science, 28-29, 175-182. doi: 10.34079/2226-2830-2020-10-28-29-175-182.

[12] Casero-Ripollés, A., Tuñón, J., & Bouza-García, L. (2023). The European approach to online disinformation: Geopolitical and regulatory dissonance. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10, article number 657. doi: 10.1057/s41599-023-02179-8.

[13] Che, Y., Lu, Y., Pierce, J.R., Schott, P.K., & Tao, Z. (2021). Did trade liberalization with China influence US elections? Journal of International Economics, 139, article number 103652. doi: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2022.103652.

[14] Chernovol, I.O., & Charskykh, I.Y. (2021). US information security: Disunited states of America? Bulletin of Student Scientific Society, 1(13), 91-96.

[15] Eichensehr, K.E. (2021). Contemporary practice of the United States relating to international law. Cambridge University Press for The American Society of International Law, 115(2), 309-317. doi: 10.1017/ajil.2021.10.

[16] EIU. (2023). Democracy Index, 2022. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/democracy-index-eiu?time=2022&region=Europe&country=~SVK.

[17] Henschke, A., Sussex, M., & O’Connor, C. (2020). Countering foreign interference: Election integrity lessons for liberal democracies. Journal of Cyber Policy, 5(2), 180-198. doi: 10.1080/23738871.2020.1797136.

[18] IPU Pirline. (n.d.). National Parliaments. Retrieved from https://www.ipu.org/national-parliaments.

[19] Jeangène Vilmer, J.-B., Escorcia, A., Guillaume, M., & Herrera, J. (2018). Information manipulation: A challenge for our democracies. Paris: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Ministry for the Armed Forces.

[20] Kurlantzick, J. (2022). China’s growing attempts to influence U.S. politics. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/article/chinas-growing-attempts-influence-us-politics.

[21] Levin, D.H. (2016). When the great power gets a vote: The effects of great power electoral interventions on election results. International Studies Quarterly, 60(2), 189-202. doi: 10.1093/isq/sqv016.

[22] Lin, H. (2019). The existential threat from cyber-enabled information warfare. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 75(4), 187-196. doi: 10.1080/00963402.2019.1629574.

[23] Lonardo, L. (2021). EU law against hybrid threats: A first assessment. European Papers, 6(2), 1075-1096. doi: 10.15166/2499-8249/514.

[24] Luther, C.A., Horne, B.D., & Zhang, X. (2021). Partisanship over security: Public narratives via Twitter on foreign interferences in the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections. First Monday, 26(8). doi: 10.5210/fm.v26i8.11682.

[25] Martynov, A. (2017). The 2017 Bundestag elections in the context of Germany’s recent political history. Ukraine- Europe-World, 20, 176-186.

[26] Pylypiuk, K. (2022). Information and propaganda influence of the Russian Federation on the presidential elections in the United States of America (2016 and 2020). Media Forum: Analytics, Forecasts, Information Management, 11, 310- 319.

[27] Rahman, M.F.B.A., Haciyakupoglu, G., Hui, J.Y., Leong, D., Yi-Ling, T., & Ang, B. (2020). Countermeasures against foreign interference. Nanyang: RSIS.

[28] Rato, V. (2018). Breaking the siege: Putin’s Russia and the new Cold War. Nation and Defence, 150, 116-148.

[29] Ross, A.R.N., Vaccari, C., & Chadwick, A. (2022). Russian Meddling in U.S. Elections: How news of disinformation’s impact can affect trust in electoral outcomes and satisfaction with democracy. Mass Communication and Society, 25(6), 786-811. doi: 10.1080/15205436.2022.2119871.

[30] Rotar, N. (2021). Formation of a policy to protect the electoral model of political participation from disinformation influences (on the example of the European Union policy). Historical and Political Problems of the Modern World, 43, 179-193.

[31] Schmitt, M.N. (2021). Foreign cyber interference in elections. International Law Studies, 97, 738-764.

[32] Shekhovtsov, A. (2018). Russian interference and where to find it. Berlin: European Platform for Democratic Elections.

[33] Silvestre, R. (2022). Protection of democratic processes and electoral acts from russian digital active measures: 2016 as a reference year. Janus.net, E-journal of International Relations, 13(1), 19-35.

[34] Texty.org.ua. (2022). The germs of the Russian world. Retrieved from https://texty.org.ua/projects/108323/germs-russian-world-who-supports-russia-europe/.

[35] Vaida, Y. (2022). Sharp power: A challenge or a threat to the security of the European Union? International Scientific Bulletin, 1(25), 229-235.

[36] Zharovska, I.M., & Kovalchuk, V.B. (2020). Digital technologies in the electoral process: Theoretical aspects of compliance with democratic standards. Legal Sciences, 4(14), 4-10. doi: 10.15587/2523-4153.2020.218559.

Suggested citation

Chechelashvili, M., Berikashvili, L., & Malania, E. (2023). Foreign interference in electoral processes as a factor of international politics: Mechanisms and counteraction. Foreign Affairs, 33(6), 52-62. https://doi.org/10.46493/2663-2675.33(6).2023.52-62