Stratcom Summit, Istanbul, November 2023

On 24-25 November 2023, Oliver and Jordan participated in the International Strategic Communication (Stratcom) Summit in Istanbul.

The conference highlighted that disinformation, misinformation, and propaganda is undermining democracy. It was reiterated throughout discussions that justice and truth are the only paths to peace but many recognised that disinformation was blurring the lines between peace and conflict. 

Jordan moderated a panel called “New Hybrid Threats” at the Stratcom Summit in Istanbul. The panel discussed the challenges societies face due to the rise in disinformation, misinformation and propaganda, in addition to what can be done to counter such threats.

Jordan emphasised that the aim of disinformation is to undermine our notion of what is true. He said that this is pernicious and dangerous in democracies as it breaks down trust within and between societies. The threat of disinformation is exacerbated by growing global populations, the feeling that policies are made to people and not with them, in addition to rapid economic, political, social, environmental, and technological change.

On Oliver’s panel, titled ‘New Dilemmas of Strategic Communications: Information Security and Transparency’, he said that the speed by which we communicate has presented many with information overload that makes it much more difficult to discern what is true and what is false. This can hinder our ability to come to the right understanding of complex challenges in a world where the analysis we hear in the media is based on soundbites. 

Jordan moderates the panel discussion on ‘hybrid threats’.

Oliver discussing effective strategies for communication.