Psychological Coercion : Methods Of Conducting “Color Revolutions”

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Written by Prof.Dr. Vladimir Prav exclusively for SouthFront

As one of the main methods of conducting “Color Revolutions” in conditions of hybrid warfare, psychological coercion requires greater scrutiny. The success of a hybrid war requires the creation and functioning of “networks”, but a network-centric war, unlike wars of previous periods, is waged not by states or even by blocs, but by global structures. These can be either institutionalized structures, or shadowy groups dedicated to subversion and terrorism.

The network-centric operation ensures the ability to comprehensively manage all the active players in international relations. The introduction of the “network” solves the problem of depriving the country, armies and governments of independence, sovereignty and subjectivity, by striving to turn them into tightly controlled objects. First of all, the geopolitical aggressor consolidates control over the entire set of resources of the enemy country. The “transfer” of control of these resources to the aggressor is carried out largely voluntarily and willingly, since it is innocently perceived not as aggression, but as a pathway to development. A network-centric operation also operates in the mental cultural arena, with the goal of destroying the traditional values of a given nation, to be replaced by those of an alien culture which can be manipulated for hybrid warfare purposes.

Network-centric operations include “Color Revolutions”, the idea of which is to gain full control over the state and its territory, if possible, without the use of armed violence. The “Color Revolution” is the process of changing the ruling government of the state through nonviolent actions by citizens with the support of, and in the interests of, the homegrown opposition, backed by an external international actor. It creates the illusion of legitimacy of decisions and actions taken under crowd pressure, and also masks the illegal activities of foreign residents and the betrayal of the national interests of the state by elite groups.

“Color Revolutions” have a “latent” character and usually are not perceived as a threat by the entire host societies. Detecting acts of “Color Revolutions” is the task of the special services, in order to render them visible to the elite. The use of adequate retaliatory measures is a function of an alert political elite.

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An effective tactic of psychological coercion used during “Color Revolutions” is the method known as “pincer grip”. The object of influence, the government or another public administration body, comes under psychological pressure from both shadowy and legitimate centres of power, simultaneously “from above” and “from below”.

This tactic is implemented using the following steps:

1. Formation of an organizational environment of psychological pressure:

• “from above” (agents of influence at various levels of government, counter-elite, “fifth column”);
• “from below” (creation of socio-political structures – parties, movements, foundations, centers, mass media; introduction of their representatives into public organizations, control over the media, organization of mass protests, creation of a coordination center).

2. Practical implementation of psychological pressure “from below”:

• arousing mass indignation and discontent among the population with the activities of the government;
• creation of public opinion, which is the basis for legitimizing regime change;
• preparation and launch of protests and acts of mass disobedience.

3. Practical implementation of psychological pressure “from above” – lobbying for a profitable (necessary) version of a political decision made by the government:

• bringing negative information about current events to political figures, including through an informal environment (relatives, friends);
• activities aimed at convincing members of the government that there is no alternative to the proposed political solutions.

4. Making a political decision. Coming under pressure from “above” and “below”, the government begins to make poor decisions. If these decisions do not satisfy the organizers of the Conspiracy, then the psychological pressure increases. If the decision corresponds to the interests of the organizers of the Conspiracy, then there is transition to the next step.
5. The removal of psychological pressure. If the decision is welcomed and approved by the population, then psychological pressure is lifted from the government, whilst provocative activities to arouse mass discontent and protests are curtailed. The situation is normalised.

The effectiveness of the above process is influenced by many factors, including the psychological characteristics of the population whose consciousness is being manipulated, the real social conditions in which this population is located, their mass expectations, as well as the cohesion and professionalism of the members of the organizational environment team under psychological pressure “from above” and “from below”.

Psychological pressure on the military-political leadership of the state – “pincer grip” – is launched on three levels:

1. International level (external Conspiracy forces);
2. elite groups of the center;
3. elite groups of the periphery.

The elite groups of the center and the periphery pursue similar goals in many ways. In order to increase their pressure “from above” on the top officials of the state, they turn to external political forces, to the international organizers of the Conspiracy.

All the “Color Revolutions” that are taking place in the world, and in particular in the post–Soviet space, are a phenomenon prepared and organized by the United States to establish geopolitical control over those states and territories that were previously in Russia’s zone of influence. Currently, Russia is listed by the United States and NATO countries as one of the main geopolitical rivals. Therefore, the main goal for the geopolitical struggle of Washington is, ultimately, Russia itself, which it never hides.

For states and regimes, “Color Revolutions” carry colonial aspects. When implementing this scenario, the interests of society are completely ignored. The society itself becomes a bargaining chip. The “revolutionaries” themselves are the first to disappear from the political arena, and are sometimes quietly eliminated. People who begin to sincerely believe in the ideals of the “color revolutions”, unaware that these are provoked ideals, in fact, become the expendable fuel of such revolutions. Society itself is being brought out of balance, social foundations are being violated, the authority of the government is falling, discontent is growing, not to mention the functioning of the economy. All these are ideal conditions for imposing and establishing Western models of social structure. Wherever scenarios of “Color Revolutions” have been implemented, today we can observe either a partial or complete loss of sovereignty. Here are two examples.

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Georgia

Modern Georgia: lost its sovereignty; the “Rose Revolution” led to serious processes that destabilized society; it also lost about 20% of its territory. Territorial problems are observed in all countries of the post-Soviet space, at one time or another, oriented towards the United States.

Georgia is the most important geopolitical springboard for the United States to consolidate its position in the Caucasus. This is due to the fact that Georgia is a transit country for energy resources from the Caspian region to Europe. Georgia is an element of the Caucasian isthmus, through which Russia can establish direct strategic relations with Iran. Georgia is a springboard for the deployment of military force and political influence to the entire Caspian region, including Russia.

That is why, realizing the main task of US geopolitics related to Russia and the Caspian region, the United States worked hard to remove Georgia from Russia’s sphere of influence, and establish its own control over the country. Thus, Georgia has adopted the Atlanticist vector of development, having completely lost any sovereignty.

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Ukraine

Since the 2000s, the US-centric world order has been collapsing. A multipolar world has begun to take shape, and the necessary conditions begun to be created in international relations. To ensure leadership in the new world order, the United States began the deliberate creation of chaos, to slow down the consolidation of alternative centres of power, in particular, Russia, China and a United Europe. To solve these tasks, the United States (the collective West) uses Ukraine, with the help of which the main blow is being inflicted on Russia – as part of a hybrid war against Russia, in which there is a large-scale use of armed forces.

In 2014, the collective West (the United States and NATO countries) organized a Color Revolution in Ukraine, the finale of which was an unconstitutional armed coup. Pro-fascist forces came to power, which are still in charge of the United States. This was the beginning of the genocide against the people of Donbass. The coup led to a civil war in Ukraine.

Under these conditions, the collective West began to actively work to form an “anti-Russia” state in Ukraine, whose main goals were:

1. to establish a springboard for constant military pressure on Russia by creating military bases, integrated intelligence centers, deploying elements of the missile defense system, and the constant presence of warships in the Black Sea. Currently, this bridgehead is being used to wage an armed war against Russia;
2. the implementation of NATO standards in the Ukrainian army and the supply of modern types of weapons, preparation for combat operations against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;
3. appropriation of the fertile lands of Ukraine to ensure the food security of NATO countries amid the current global food crisis. Ukrainian grain is currently being exported to the world market;
4. provision of water resources to European countries at the expense of Ukraine, amid rising pressure for fresh water resources on Earth;
5. indoctrinating the people of Ukraine with a fabricated lineage, dividing them from their Russian heritage and inculcating hatred for Russia and the Russian people, in the Nazi militaristic spirit, thus turning Ukraine into a weapon to be used against the Russian world;
6. deindustrialization, since only some goods produced in Ukraine are needed by Western countries (they do not need competition).

Let’s consider how Ukraine was turned into an enemy of Russia, into an “anti-Russia” state:

• The common history of Ukraine and Russia (the history of a single state) was destroyed – the so-called “New Ukrainian History” was invented. The historical spiritual and moral commonality has been broken and the notion of the triune Russian people (Russian-Belarusian-Ukrainian) has been destroyed. This included the provoking of a schism within Orthodoxy, which has led to a religious conflict between the Orthodox in Ukraine and Russia.
• The values of the Western world, which today are very far from the divine commandments, were imposed on the Ukrainian population. Ukraine has raised an entire generation on the ideas of Bandera, on Russophobia, on chauvinist nationalism. The Russian language, traditions and culture of Russia were scorned. Russian schools, the broadcasting of Russian TV channels and radio, Russian music, and the distribution of written material from Russia are prohibited.
• Family ties were destroyed. Crimea became part of Russia, whilst the DPR and the LPR did not want to live under the control of the Nazi-Bandera authorities. Social contradictions and the different mentality of western and eastern Ukraine, along with other reasons, led to a civil war, and to the genocide of the peoples of the DPR and LPR.
• In 1991 Ukraine was a rich, prosperous state with industrial and scientific potential, developed infrastructure and nuclear energy. After independence, the country’s economy was systematically deindustrialized, and much of the national capital stolen and exported to the West. Ukraine began to work only for the oligarchs, and the Western economy. Economic ties with Russia were reduced to zero, and the entire economy of Ukraine was turned against Russia.
• Organizational and personnel changes were launched in the structures of public administration. Notorious nationalists raised on fascist ideology, with whom it is impossible to conduct diplomatic negotiations, were recruited. Any future negotiations can be based only on complete denationalization and demilitarization.
• Ukraine has established close ties with military structures and special services of the West, which have provided formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine capable of conducting military operations against Russia.

Thus, “Color Revolutions” are network–centric operations aimed at subverting the existing political establishment in a particular country. They is based on techniques of civil struggle developed by American specialists. The purpose of a “Color Revolution” is to gain full control over the state and its territory, if possible without the use of formal military violence. Armed violence may be the last phase of the Color Revolutions, as clearly manifested in Ukraine in 2014.

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