Resource person: Audra Bullard - office@clehighlands.com

Description:

In an era of digital warfare and hybrid threats, Russian misinformation has become one of the most powerful tools in shaping political narratives across Europe. Join us for an eye-opening lecture on how disinformation campaigns are impacting European societies, influencing elections, and challenging democratic institutions. Professor Tasar will describe the tactics and tools Russia uses to spread misinformation, including social media manipulation, fake news, and state-sponsored narratives. He will explain how these campaigns are affecting elections, polarizing public opinion, and undermining trust in democratic processes across the continent. Participants will look at how misinformation intersects with cyberattacks and the broader landscape of hybrid warfare in Europe. Tasar will offer specific examples of Russian misinformation campaigns targeting countries like Ukraine, France, Germany, and the UK, and speculate about their long-lasting effects. Finally, he will discuss strategies and solutions for countering Russian misinformation, including the role of media literacy, government intervention, and international cooperation.

Eren Tasar is Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor in the History Department at UNC Chapel Hill, where he has taught since 2013. His interests are the religious and social history of Soviet Central Asia. Tasar’s first book, Soviet and Muslim: the Institutionalism of Islam in Central Asia, examined Soviet policies toward Islamic institutions. His 24 lecture video series about the history of Central Asia since ancient times for The Great Courses was released in January 2025. Tasar has two forthcoming books, Muslim Atheism in Central Asia, which is under review with the Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, and Central Asia from Antiquity to the Present, which is under contract with Oxford University Press.

Notes: Cancellation Policy Please let us know immediately if you are unable to attend a class. There is no refund for cancellations within two (2) weeks prior to a scheduled class. Programs that include food, beverage or art materials must be canceled within three (3) weeks prior to receive a refund. CLE reserves the right to cancel a program if the minimum enrollment has not been met or for circumstances beyond our control, and participants will be notified, a complete refund will be issued. All classes are held in the CLE Lecture Hall at the Peggy Crosby Center unless otherwise noted. In the event information has changed from the published brochure, it will be posted on our website and in our e-blasts. Addresses for “private home” venues will be provided to registrants within 2 days of the program date.

Share this activity: