Join us this Tuesday, August 2, at 7 p.m. in the Block Island Maritime Institute’s Cove Room (or on the back deck if you prefer) as we listen to Dr. James M. Ludes present upon “A New Cold War: Disinformation, Political Warfare, and Influence Campaigns.” As you know, disinformation is a current concern, however, Ludes discusses that disinformation is not a new phenomenon; it is as old as the human experience. In the Cold War, disinformation played a central role as part of Soviet “active measures”to undermine the political and military cohesion of the West. Today, America’s adversaries, including Russia, use social media, English-language news outlets, and surrogatesto sow chaos and divide America internally and from its allies. Ludes’ talk will explore the recent history of these dark arts and howthey have been used to target American democracy, the response to COVID, and even the West’s response to the war in Ukraine.Ludes is well equipped to discuss this matter. He is currently the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., as well as Executive Director of the university’s Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. He also holds an appointment in the
