Juku-Kalle Raid: Russian propaganda is the same as in 1941

Riigikogu member Juku-Kalle Raid recommends reading a Soviet propaganda book published in 1941 as a primer for understanding Russia's actions. Raid warns that the propaganda trap can ensnare even completely ordinary people, not just the historically illiterate. The book's new edition was published by Riigikogu member Henn Põlluaas.

Riigikogu member Juku-Kalle Raid highlights a new edition of the 1941 Soviet propaganda book "We Will Crush the White Finnish Snake," published by fellow Riigikogu member Henn Põlluaas. In Raid's assessment, Põlluaas deserves credit for this step, as the work serves as an excellent textbook for understanding Russia's behavioural patterns.

Raid writes that the book's extraordinarily absurd language use, absolute falsehoods, brazen cynicism and arbitrary arrogance precisely reflect how Russia operates to this day. The work provides a benchmark against which to evaluate contemporary pro-Russian propaganda on social media, descriptions of "suffering under Brussels' yoke" and similar content, behind which Raid sees Russia's hand.

Propaganda catches ordinary people too

Raid particularly emphasises that skillfully crafted propaganda does not ensnare only historically uneducated people. The same can happen to completely ordinary and educated individuals. A person may not even realise what "informative pearls" they are unconsciously collecting and what distorted worldview these gradually shape in their mind.

Raid draws a parallel to scam emails as well: all manner of fraud schemes belong in the same category as crude war propaganda, both using similar psychological tactics to influence people's perceptions and behaviour.

A historical mirror to the present day

The core of Raid's message is that in the context of the Russian war, it is particularly important to understand how Russia has historically applied its propaganda techniques. A book over eighty years old thus proves surprisingly relevant reading for those who wish to understand present-day information warfare and its mechanisms.