Silent Sabotage: Unpacking Subversive Tactics in Ideological Warfare
From Stirring the Pot to Shaping the Narrative: How Inflammatory Actions and the Outrage Machine Threaten Democracy
Let's talk briefly about a topic we are well versed in as human beings: 'shit stirring.' From now on, it will be referred to as subversive or inflammatory activity.
Subversive activity is also a tool in the toolbox of Ideological Warfare. Think about it like this: if you want to build a weapon, you need more than just a screwdriver. It helps to have milling machines, screwdrivers, wrenches, and a little Locktite (critical thinking) to ensure the screws are resistant to vibration and tampering.
Building on this analogy— the screwdriver is not the end-all, be-all of the weapon's construction—but It is important. Without it, you could mill the weapon parts, assemble them and get off a few shots before it fell apart. You cannot physically hand-tighten the screws enough to hold it together for long.
Subversive activity is like that: a tool in a well-kitted toolbox. Now, let's flip this thing on its head. Say you have a well-built weapon, and I sneak in and loosen a few screws; that weapon may malfunction and allow me, a weaponless owner of screwdrivers, to come in and overpower you.
That, my friends, is the goal behind ideological or asymmetric warfare. I may not be able to beat you with tanks and other forms of kinetic warfare, but—if I can subvert your population and foster division, hatred, and mistrust in the state institutions among them—I may be able to present a candidate that is messiah-like in prescribing simplified solutions. I'm not a politician—just a simple working person. Vote for me; I stand for 'traditional family values' and want to 'protect our country' and 'free speech:' My candidate!
Consider this: recent investigations by the Irish Gardai have discovered that many recent protests and violence instigators are from outside Ireland (Ali B. 2024). Social media is a well-stocked service bay where all the tools to do the job are readily available, even ones that exist in other countries. Are you being played? Read the referenced CIA document! That's old news: Think about how much more effective that stuff is today.
Shit stirring is a powerful, effective, and destructive tool. It is also a staple Russian pub piece! Beware, and be aware, Cave, et cognosce! Use your critical thinking abilities, be rational and do not fall victim to the outrage machine created and amplified by bad actors: Be the shepherd, not the sheep!
Terms:
Ideology: 'The basic beliefs motivating a social system (CIA 1952).'
Ideological warfare: 'A planned attack against the basic ideology of a hostile system. (Should be done concurrently with a vigorous effort to gain acceptance or tolerance of basic ideas of our own system.) (CIA 1952)'
Asymmetric Warfare: Asymmetric Warfare is a backhanded warfare technique used by weaker combatants against superior ones. It uses disinformation, propaganda, and other subversive tactics to gain advantage.
Pub Piece: A pub piece is a tune usually belted out by a customer at traditional Irish pubs. It is usually the same tune each time: hance piece, not pieces.
Outrage Machine: The "outrage machine," as defined by Timothy Stockwell in his book, refers to the media and social media platforms' practice of amplifying and perpetuating moral resentment and anger to increase engagement and polarise public discourse.
References
Ali B. (2024). Gardaí monitor the threat of far-right unrest ahead of European and local elections. Retrieved from Retrieved from. https://bit.ly/3VqOsJ6
CIA. Unclassified official CIA Secret Document, April 18, 1952). Retrieved from. CIA.gov
Stockwell T. Outrage Machine: How Tech Amplifies Discontent, Disrupts Democracy – and What We Can Do About It. (2023). Retrieved from. Amazon UK