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An article I saw on BBC News this morning was showing a clip where Theresa May accused Russia of creating fake news and photoshopped images during the United Kingdom general election last year. How would this benefit them (Russia) in any way?

Related news article.

Cthulhu
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    The question sounds like a rhetrorical one. Was it intended as such? I mean, clearly the "fake news" here is Theresa May's accusation itself, deliberately timed with another obvious fake about Russian involvement in Catalonian matters. – AnT stands with Russia Nov 16 '17 at 10:31
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    @AnT That wasn't the intention. How does the question sound rhetorical to you, exactly? – Cthulhu Nov 16 '17 at 10:54
  • "How would this benefit them (Russia) in any way?" Very simple. Influencing other nations during election campaigns so that a party is elected that is more favorable towards the own nation is always favorable. That is, unless it all comes out. Is that not enough potential benefit for you? – NoDataDumpNoContribution Nov 16 '17 at 12:25

2 Answers2

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The fact that an entity is not directly running in an election does not mean in any way that it might not see as favourable, and thus prefer, an outcome over the other.

Particularly it is mostly understood that a divided EU (starting with Brexit) is beneficial to the interests of Moscow:

  1. Crisis in the EU is a blessing for Moscow: Without the U.K. — one of the most vocal supporters of the EU’s sanctions regime against Russia — Russian officials say pressure on the Kremlin will be reduced, leading to significant foreign policy benefits.
  2. A weaker Europe is a weaker NATO: The disintegration of the EU could translate into a weakening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, long regarded by Russia as a political and military threat.

This means that they might have seen the Brexit side as favourable to them, and thus decided to support it, overtly or less so.

Federico
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    As a more general principle: A country dealing with internal problems won't have the bandwidth to address external problems. If you can keep them busy arguing in the house, they won't pay as much attention to what you're doing in the garden. – Roger Lipscombe Nov 14 '17 at 14:45
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    @RogerLipscombe better yet, they won't notice you breaking in the front door and swiping all their furniture while they are all busy arguing in the dining room. – user64742 Nov 14 '17 at 16:34
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    @RogerLipscombe, Russia themselves is a counterexample, though. Having internal problems does not necessarily mean that government won't try to address external problems. Sometimes latter even help solve former. – rus9384 Nov 14 '17 at 18:35
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    @rus9384 the more things change, the more they stay the same: "What this country needs is a short, victorious war to stem the tide of revolution." V.K. Plehve, Russian Minister of the Interior to General A.N. Kuropatkin, Minister of War, 1903 C.E., on the eve of the Russo-Japanese War – Dan Is Fiddling By Firelight Nov 14 '17 at 20:15
  • But if that's so, why is (pro-Brexit) Theresa May calling them out? (Other than to distract from the dissension in her own party and Parliament over her hard-line Brexit position?) – Tiercelet Nov 14 '17 at 20:27
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    @Tiercelet Theresa May is not pro-Brexit, but she is doing the job assigned by the vote. – Federico Nov 14 '17 at 21:03
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    Britain has an extremely off side position in Europe having basically owned half the world some hundred years ago. Assuming each other European country would have the same balls to follow example and act on such self confidence, that they would be better off "independent" is just crazy talk. – mathreadler Nov 15 '17 at 18:05
  • "As a more general principle: A country dealing with internal problems won't have the bandwidth to address external problems." This seems far-fetched, since many states, especially (but not limited to) autocratic ones, escalate external problems to avoid discussion over internal problems. Moreover, the anti-russian hardliners in many east european countries are also anti-EU, so Russia would strengthen its own enemies. – Thern Nov 16 '17 at 10:15
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    @RogerLipscombe Especially if what you are doing in the garden is invading Ukraine and Georgia and (soon?) Estonia. – kingledion Nov 16 '17 at 13:53
  • "escalate external problems to avoid discussion over internal problems" - distraction from internal problems doesn't usually deal with internal problems. If people are hungry, distraction won't feed them. If the government is corrupt, distraction won't reduce interaction costs. If people are afraid to speak openly, distraction will not make them feel free. It may buy the government some time, but it also gives the problem time to grow. – Max Murphy Aug 08 '21 at 15:27
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Assuming the Russian government is being envious, competitive and egoist, not interested in absolute welfare, neither their welfare, nor the welfare of others, but only in competition... well anything that harms others is good for them.

In such case, it's not so much important who got the most votes. What is important is that their mandate is weakened by conspiracy theories, by fading trust in elections, fading trust in democracy itself. Instead of debating relevant issues, public focus is shifted to fringe scandals. Some ad hoc small parties may get some votes, even some constituencies, and creating viable ruling coalitions may become quite a problem for traditional parties in some countries. People may start believing that traditional democracy simply does not work. And democracy is like a monetary system or like pretty much everything: faith makes the difference.

And Theresa May falls into the trap. Of course, honest journalism is not the only journalism on the planet. Of course, we have tabloid journalism focusing on exaggerating minor or unfounded issues. Of course we have people sharing hoaxes. Her task is to do good politics and to address important issues, not to waste time researching the working or funding of dishonest journalism.

psmears
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JJZ
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