Russia's New Tools of Influence in Africa

Join us for a meeting of the New York-Russia Public Policy Seminar, a forum co-hosted by the Harriman Institute and the New York University Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia. Over recent years, Russia has played an increasingly active role in influencing the domestic politics of African countries, including Central African Republic, Madagascar and Libya. Russia's influence activities have grown in their intensity and range, from mounting online social media campaigns, to soliciting economic contracts and even conducting security operations. This new range of activities raises a number of issues. What is the relationship between groups conducting influence operations and the Russian state in contemporary Africa? Should they be considered part of Russia's foreign policy and, if so, what are Russia’s goals and interests on the continent? What actually distinguishes Russia’s use of social media actors and private security companies from Western actors that also employ them? And what are the practical difficulties in covering and attributing such activities? This distinguished panel of scholars and journalists will share their experiences and insights about Russia’s new toolkit of influence in Africa. PANELISTS Roman Badanin, editor-in-chief of the investigative media outlet Proekt Shelby Grossman, Research Scholar at the Stanford Internet Observatory Kimberly Marten, Professor & Chair of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University Khadeja Ramali, independent social data analyst and researcher Moderated by: Alexander Cooley, Director of the Harriman Institute, Columbia University Joshua Tucker, Director of the Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia, New York University