Emotional Impact of Pro-Russian Disinformation in the Czech Information Space: Analysis of Sentiments, Narratives and Manipulative Strategies (2016–2023)
Emotional Impact of Pro-Russian Disinformation in the Czech Information Space: Analysis of Sentiments, Narratives and Manipulative Strategies (2016–2023)

Summary/Abstract: The RF’s disinformation campaigns targeting the Czech information space demonstrate a systematic use of emotional manipulation to destabilize public opinion and undermine democratic institutions. These campaigns are characterized by a deliberate interplay of fear, anger, and trust to amplify their manipulative impact. The study aims to analyse the emotional strategies and dominant sentiments in pro-Russian disinformation narratives and to uncover their role in framing public perception. The findings reveal that the RF’s disinformation employs contrasting sentiments – negative (fear, anger) and positive (trust, hope) – to enhance credibility and emotional resonance; such dominant topics as inter- nal politics, external threats, and economic crises are strategically utilized to align with the Czech socio-political context; the dynamics of sentiments over time indicate a shift from overtly negative narratives to more subtle and complex strategies aimed at increasing public trust in disinformation sources. The analysis highlights the dual function of emotional narratives in pro-Russian disinformation: creating societal tension while fostering selective trust to manipulate public opinion effec- tively. The empirical data are taken from the EUvsDisinfo database.

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