Exporting Chaos: Russian Cyberattacks on the West

In today’s world, conflict between countries does not always take the form of traditional warfare. Instead, governments often rely on cyber activity, online influence, and other non-military strategies to compete, shape public opinion, and protect national interests, all while staying below the threshold of armed conflict.

For decades, Russia has used a range of cyber and information-based tactics in its interactions with the United States and its allies. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency notes that Russia employs tools such as disinformation, espionage, cyberattacks, influence operations, coercive energy tactics, and other “gray zone” strategies to promote its interests.

This talk will examine how and why Russia uses these tactics, how effective they have been, and the challenges they present for U.S. security and democratic systems. The talk will also explore how the United States and its partners work to defend against cyber threats in an increasingly digital global environment.

The talk will be presented by Dr. Stephanie B. Anderson, Professor of Political Science, Ph.D. University of Cambridge (UK), M.Sc., The London School of Economics, and B.S.F.S. at Georgetown University. Her research focus is on the European Union (EU) as an international actor, as well as international relations and security issues. Anderson has won two Fulbright awards and held research positions at the Free University of Berlin, the EU Centre in Singapore, and the University of Basel in Switzerland. She has published three books, the most recent a co-edited volume Polarization and Deep Contestations: The Liberal Script in the United States with Oxford University Press. She has also published in several journals and edited volumes including Armed Forces and Society, The SAGE Handbook of European Foreign Affairs, and European Foreign Affairs Review.

If you are interested in international affairs, cybersecurity, or the evolving nature of global conflict, this presentation offers an opportunity to better understand the forces shaping today’s geopolitical landscape.

Join Dr. Anderson on Saturday, February 21, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Cottonwood Room for this engaging and thought-provoking discussion.