PART 3
Historical Context
Phase 1 of Ideological Subversion: Infiltration
– Infiltration, as the first phase of ideological subversion, has a rich historical context, associated with numerous examples of manipulation and change of ideological beliefs in different periods and movements. This historical context is important for understanding how infiltration strategies have developed and been applied over time, as well as how they manifest themselves in contemporary societies. –
Origin of subversion
Although the term “subversion” is relatively new, actions aimed at destabilizing ideologies and
power structures are not. As early as antiquity, movements sought to challenge established beliefs in politics, religion, or culture. Greek philosophers such as Socrates were accused of corrupting the youth for ideas that challenged traditional norms.
Examples in antiquity:
– Movements such as Stoicism and Epicureanism challenged the dominant religious beliefs of the time. While these examples do not constitute infiltration in the modern sense, they do demonstrate the ability of new ideas to gradually infiltrate established societies. –
Modern era and revolutions
– Periods of great social upheaval, such as revolutions, often fostered ideological infiltration. The French Revolution (1789) is a prime example, where new proclaimed values such as liberty, equality, and fraternity were introduced into a society that was at the time based on monarchy and tradition.
Infiltration of revolutionary ideas
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Enlightenment philosophers such as Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu infiltrated political thought through the publication of their works and the founding of philosophical clubs.
Their influence contributed to the destabilization of monarchical power and the emergence of new political ideals.
The 20th century and the Cold War –
The Cold War is one of the periods when infiltration as a form of subversion became particularly prominent. The two great global rivals—the United States and the Soviet Union—conducted campaigns of ideological infiltration to undermine enemy regimes and expand their spheres of influence. –
– Infiltration in the USSR
The Soviet Union implemented infiltration strategies to create and influence communist movements around the world. Agents of influence infiltrated trade unions, political parties, and social movements to promote Marxism-Leninism,
creating internal discord and weakening local governments. –
Coup and Manipulation:
– These are such “operations”, like the coup in Afghanistan in 1979, organized by the USSR (read: Russia), as an attempt to do the same, landing at the government location, but already with the use of open aggression under the cynical slogans of “denazification” – in the attack in 2022 by Russia on Ukraine.
This is a “revolution” in Cuba, which is so strategically located under the USA itself, these are the countries of Latin America, the Middle East.
Modern Era and Social Movements
In the modern world, technology and digital media have changed the methods of
ideological infiltration. Modern social movements, such as civil rights movements,
feminist movements, or environmental activists, are created to destabilize society and destroy enduring values, such as family and lineage, or to distract from serious societal problems, such as commercialized medicine, monopolization, corruption, etc.
The use of social media
Digital platforms have greatly facilitated the infiltration of ideologies on a massive scale. Fake news, disinformation campaigns, and other forms of online manipulation have made it easier to interfere in public debates and influence the masses. This
has made the political and social spheres significantly more vulnerable to ideological manipulation.
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The infiltration phase of ideological subversion is a constant in history,
evolving over the centuries and maintaining the same basic objective:
the destabilization of established belief systems in order to promote new ideologies. Whether
through ancient philosophical ideas or sophisticated strategies of modern manipulation,
infiltration methods remain relevant, sometimes in covert forms and sometimes overt.
Vigilance and a critical understanding of these dynamics are essential for navigating a world where ideas, more than ever, are instruments of power.
Colonel Paul Michel Menandise,
Head of the Department of International Influence and Culture of the Information and Analytical Center for National Security of Ukraine
