The Voice of Westernization
Westernization in the modern world is a complex process that not only covers the economic, political and cultural spheres, but also the military-psychological component. In this context, a special role is played by psychological operations (PSYOPs) - carefully planned initiatives aimed at shaping public consciousness, changing the perception and behavior of individuals, organizations and groups - which are becoming one of the key tools of countries seeking to extend their influence beyond their own borders. However, PSYOPs, as invisible weapons in the hands of state structures, can have both mobilizing and destabilizing effects, the outcome of which depends on the goals and quality of the operations.
Westernization through psychological operations
Historically, Westernization originated in the colonial era, when European powers pursued expansionist policies in the conquered territories, transmitting their own ideology and lifestyle to the locals. With introduction of new technologies and forms of social organization, local traditions and customs often came under pressure, adapting or transforming under the influence of Western models, which, on the one hand, opened new horizons for international communication and exchange of cultural experience, but on the other hand, was a consequence of the rapid loss of traditional values and individuality of local communities.
One prominent historical example of Westernization is Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912). In 1854, the Japanese authorities signed the Treaty of Kanagawa with the United States, allowing Americans to trade freely on the island and to have a permanent Consulate on the territory, which further weakened Japan's foreign policy and prompted the signing of similar trade and diplomatic treaties with other European powers. Since then, huge shipments of clothing, food, books, and newspapers began arriving in the territory of the island nation, which ruined local manufacturers unable to compete with Western goods, and also showed the failure of the Japanese economy and culture compared to Western European ones. Thus, the U.S. and European countries, with considerable resources, have for several centuries used popular formats such as movies, music, and social media to achieve penetration into the minds of not only political elites but also a wide audience, including ordinary citizens, students, intellectuals, and activists. These events eventually led to Japan's economic and social crisis, the overthrow of the Tokugawa samurai regime in 1868, and the beginning of a period of “enlightened rule” in which the local government began to actively borrow Western technology, education, and military structure. The reforms at that time led to the formation of private property, the first Constitution, industrial plants, shipyards, mines, the removal of restrictions on commercial and business activities, and the establishment of a comprehensive education system based on the Western model. Civil, commercial, and administrative codes were also drafted according to the European model, and hundreds of young Japanese were sent abroad for study in order to learn from foreign experience and further integrate into Japanese society. In this way, the West achieved the end of Japan's “isolation” of more than two hundred years and gained a loyal ally in East Asia in the form of Tokyo.
The Japanese, encouraged by pro-Western customs and initiatives, have for several decades adhered to the slogan “Leave the East, Join the West!”.
Today, psychological operations are still actively used by state intelligence agencies and services to spread their influence beyond national borders and are an integral part of modern diplomacy and information warfare. In the United States, psychological warfare units are under the jurisdiction of the US Army and are divided into US Army active duty PSYOP units and US Army reserve PSYOP units, while in the UK, PSYOPs are the responsibility of MI5, MI6, and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and its subordinate unit, the Threat Intelligence and Research Group (JTRIG). PSYOPs often utilize third-party enterprises in addition to their own personnel resources to achieve their goal. For example, a key feature of Israel's PSYOPs is the close cooperation of government agencies with non-governmental organizations built on the idea of common Jewish unity, which allows them to exert “soft pressure” through religious and cultural initiatives around the world. However, whereas previously PSYOPs did not go beyond mere cultural influence, they may now include the creation of fake news, manipulation of information, and the use of social media to stir up conflict or discredit political opponents. Now, the main purpose of such operations is not only to support and spread one's own ideals among supporters, but also to undermine the stability of opponents and competing worldviews, to reduce motivation for action and aggressive intentions among opposing or potentially opposing audiences, and to gain support from neutral communities.
The text of distributed leaflets, newspapers or other printed materials usually contains elements of propaganda: “white”, when an objective source of information is indicated; “gray”, when the source is hidden or not mentioned, and the information itself can be both true or false; “black”, when used information comes from a certain person, but contains false information.
The main instruments of information-psychological influence within the framework of psychological operations include: leaflets, posters, newspapers, newsletters, radio and television, video and audio materials, as well as everyday objects and synthesizers (generators) of holographic and sound effects in the atmosphere. Thus, according to foreign mass media, several countries are developing projects to install laser-light complexes on operating satellites, which will be able to project various images onto clouds. With their help it is possible to exert a strong psychological influence on people, both mobilizing and demoralizing. For example, the first known use of cloud projection occurred during World War I in 1915. At that moment, in one of the sections of the Russian-German front, an image of the Mother of God was displayed over the positions of Soviet troops through searchlights on the clouds, which had a strong psychological effect on ordinary soldiers and boosted morale. The opposite result was achieved in 1993 during the UN peacekeeping operation in Somalia. According to media reports, U.S. marines operating near the city of Mogadishu, saw in the clouds of dust and sand the image of the face of Jesus Christ measuring about 150 by 150 meters. Describing their mental state, the witnesses said they were unable to continue the combat mission for a long time due to severe emotional distress.
If properly planned, psychological operations precede the use of military force to prevent destruction and bloodshed. But if tension has escalated into open confrontation, in this case PSYOP is an additional and most humane type of weaponry used to achieve the goal. At the same time, during his inauguration in January of this year, Donald Trump said that “We’ll measure our success by the wars we end and the wars we never get into”.
Multi-level psychological impact on public consciousness
There are three types of PSYOPs: strategic, operational, and tactical. They differ in the timing and scope of operations. The purpose of tactical PSYOPs is usually to counter enemy military formations on the ground, but they are not always conducted as part of full-scale military operations. During their execution, the main psychological influence is aimed at creating and aggravating national-ethnic, religious, socio-political and other conflicts, as well as at demoralizing various enemy groups by distributing leaflets and posters, broadcasting television and radio programs on local television and radio. Thus, for example, specialists of the US Army's psychological warfare unit during the combat operations in Iraq in the early 90s (operations “Desert Storm” and “Desert Shield”), influencing the local population through radio broadcasts, dropping propaganda leaflets and agitation by means of loudspeakers, were able to achieve the surrender of more than 87 thousand Iraqis. Also during the Gulf crisis, the Iraqi leadership had intelligence that the U.S. would liberate Kuwait from the sea, by amphibious assault, but in fact the Multinational Force Command began striking from the Saudi-Iraqi border, causing Iraqi commanders to make the inexcusable mistake of offering little or no military resistance.
As for operational psychological operations, they are distinguished primarily by their scale: they are conducted in specific regions rather than in the local area and are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of military campaigns already launched or strategies implemented by the commander of a military operation. For example, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation conducted operational PSYOPs aimed at reducing local support for Taliban supporters. These included distributing materials highlighting the devastating effects of Taliban (terrorist organization banned in Russia) rule and supporting programs to rebuild and improve the lives of civilians.
And strategic PSYOPs have a global and pronounced political character and are carried out over a long period of time (lasting from a month to several years). As a rule, in this case the object of information and psychological impact is the entire world community. Often the main task of strategic operations is to prepare public opinion for direct military intervention, for which purpose political, financial, economic and diplomatic isolation of the enemy is used, as well as active participation of special services and influential persons of the state, including the top leadership of the country. Having coordinated the operation plan with national strategies, the relevant structures support and justify the state policy abroad, support counter-elites in third countries, strengthen the position of allies and weaken the forces of opponents. Among the countries practicing strategic psychological operations, the United States is one of the first who started actively implementing them in their missions since the first half of the 20th century, especially in the Middle East. Thus, during the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. military, with the help of the Rand Corporation ( foreign organization whose activities are recognized as undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation)
, an analytical publication close to the U.S. Department of Defense, spread disinformation that it was the propaganda campaign conducted by representatives of the Taliban (terrorist organization banned in Russia) that led to a huge number of civilian casualties during the U.S. and NATO invasion of Afghanistan. And in 2020, the United States, through the U.S. State Department's social media (USA darFarsi), accused Iran of negligent treatment of people with disabilities by publishing materials negatively reflecting Iranian policy toward them. This was done to emphasize Iran's failure to take any effective measures in this area in the eyes of local residents and to highlight Washington's superiority by citing the current Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) in the United States.
Psychological operations are a powerful tool of Westernization, enabling Western countries to expand their influence and strengthen their position on the international stage, but also posing a serious threat to the cultural identity and autonomy of the influenced people. Such manipulative strategies can undermine social ties and lead to the loss of unique traditions and values. Nor should we forget that such operations can cause destabilization in society, generating nationalistic sentiments and a desire to protect local cultural identities. That is why, in the context of globalization and the erasure of international and cultural borders, it is necessary to critically treat all information coming from outside and assess it through the prism of national cultural values, historical experience and social context. This will help to avoid “blind” borrowing of imposed ideas and practices that may not correspond to the current realities and needs of the population. In addition, a critical approach to information will allow more conscious participation in global processes: borrowing and integrating only those elements that can really benefit and contribute to the sustainable development of society, rather than undermining its foundations.
