Russian disinformation hijacking gender cleavages: anti-gender frames on RT as a gateway for illiberal propaganda

Abstract

Efforts by authoritarian regimes like Russia to influence public opinion in democracies through disinformation have gained scholarly attention. However, the gendered dimensions of these efforts and their role in illiberal discourse remain underexplored. This article’s aim is twofold. First, examining all articles of Russia’s state-owned international outlet RT Deutsch using topic modelling and frame analysis, it offers an analysis of the meaning transported via Russian gender- and sexuality-related messaging over time in German. Findings show that RT Deutsch articles contain antifeminist and LGBT-phobic anti-gender frames, while conveying the master frame of a deceiving, immoral, values-imposing, divided and weak west. It is argued that gender functions as a gateway: Tapping into gender cleavages makes it possible for Russian propaganda to reach broad conservative audiences with illiberal claims. Second, it theorizes the role of gendered disinformation in the rise of illiberal discourse: It is argued that the dominant anti-western master frame in gender- and sexuality-related content suggests a strategic use of anti-gender messaging not only to attract conservative audiences by tapping gender cleavages, but to foster illiberal, anti-democratic attitudes among its audience. The strategic use of false or misleading anti-gender messaging for illiberal political communication is coined gendered disinformation.