Propaganda, Conspiracy Narratives, and Political Polarization: the Impact of Russian Information-Psychological Operations on Domestic Political Processes in Eu Member States

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of Russian information-psychological operations (IPOs) in European Union member states after 2014 and their intensified use under the conditions of the full-scale war since 2022, when propagandistic messages are increasingly packaged as conspiracy narratives and employed as instruments of pressure on domestic political processes. The study aims to account for the causal chain through which conspiracy plots amplify affective and vertical polarisation, erode institutional trust, and complicate decision-making, thereby lowering institutional governability and increasing the risk of domestic political instability. Methodologically, the article combines a theoretical synthesis of realist, liberal and constructivist perspectives with elements of discourse analysis and comparative analysis, complemented by an analytic discussion of illustrative European cases (including Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Finland and France). The findings indicate that conspiracy narratives function not merely as lay “explanations” of complex events but as a political technology: they provide a coherent enemy schema, normalise the delegitimation of opponents, transform uncertainty into moral certainty, and thereby facilitate mobilisation around radical demands. The core mechanisms identified are the erosion of trust and procedural legitimacy, the fragmentation of the public sphere through platform algorithms and networked communities, emotional polarisation, and the potential conversion of online radicalisation into offline action. The article also shows that the strength of these effects is conditional on the configuration of institutional capacity, national media ecosystems, and platform governance and regulatory regimes. The practical implication is that effective countermeasures should integrate platform governance, strategic communications and democratic resilience, while avoiding security responses that inadvertently undermine political pluralism and democratic legitimacy.