Russian Disinformation

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course blends theory with real-world events to examine the ethical obligations of the executive branch to counter foreign-backed disinformation circulating in the homeland. Core questions will be asked such as where is the line between government overreach, and not doing enough? Should the executive branch be involved? How can the executive branch interject itself into American speech and still maintain legitimacy? The class will study the philosophy behind foundational liberal democratic underpinnings like the social contract, trust, and legitimacy and then see the influence of national events on their application. To gain insights, the class will apply how ethics should guide outcomes and then juxtapose it against the reality of a hyper-polarized environment.