The FDP weighs up a "psychological defense."
Only people who realize they're in danger can protect themselves. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) believes that most of society hasn't fully understood the impact of Russia's aggression on their lives. To remedy this, they propose a "Psychological Defense" initiative.
The FDP parliamentary group aims to safeguard Germany from the influence of authoritarian states more effectively. In a paper obtained by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), the two deputy parliamentary group leaders, Konstantin Kuhle and Michael Georg Link, suggest creating a "Center for Psychological Defense."
Kuhle told RND that, despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, many Germans remain unaware of the influence Russia has on their society. "Russia, through attacks on critical infrastructure, financial and political collaboration with far-right parties like the AfD, and widespread disinformation, is waging a psychological war against Germany," he said. "German society, being the largest EU member state, is especially vulnerable to autocratic narratives."
Identifying Blind Spots
Kuhle and Link envision a "Center for Psychological Defense" to address this issue. This center would consolidate efforts to counter disinformation campaigns and uncover previously overlooked weaknesses. "This institution should be autonomous, not part of a ministry's hierarchy, and have a legal framework in place," they write in their paper. Additionally, it would be responsible for establishing a national early warning and information system for hybrid and asymmetric attacks.
"The super election year of 2024 reveals how susceptible liberal democracies like Germany are to disinformation campaigns," Link told RND. "Although we're not defenseless, we need to collaborate with our international partners to respond promptly and effectively to hybrid assaults on our democratic society." Germany can look to its Scandinavian, Baltic, and Central European counterparts for guidance on how to respond strategically and strengthen its defenses against external destabilization attempts.
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The FDP believes that this "Psychological Defense" initiative is crucial in light of Russia's cyberwar and the Attack on Ukraine, aiming to sensitize German society to the influence of Russia, including disinformation campaigns and political collaboration with far-right parties. The Center for Psychological Defense, proposed by the FDP, aims to identify and address these blind spots, allowing Germany to respond promptly and effectively to hybrid assaults on its democratic society.
Source: www.ntv.de
