Why is Russian Domestic War Propaganda so Effective?

Abstract

This article provides a review of possible causes of the effectiveness of the Russian domestic propaganda
campaigns launched in connection with the war in Ukraine and aimed at the domestic consumer, as well as their
discussion in academic research and analytical publications. Currently, this phenomenon is much discussed in the
oppositional Russian-speaking, Ukrainian, and world media. Nevertheless, the number of short journalistic pieces
devoted to specific aspects of this effectiveness significantly prevails over detailed analytical articles or holistic academic
studies. The present research aims to partially fill this gap.
The article defines the main groups of reasons for the effectiveness of Russian domestic propaganda, identified both in
modern studies and in earlier works, and also traces the relationship between these groups. It discusses the
organizational and technical prerequisites (the possibility of total control of the media, including access to information via
the Internet), cultural issues (the unique situation in Russia, which has developed as a result of its transgenerational
traumas), and "political technology" (political manipulation and persuasion) methods.
In conclusion, the author makes some suggestions (and assumptions) about further possibilities for studying the
phenomenon of Russian domestic propaganda and discusses its social significance.