Description
Book SynopsisRussian interference with the 2016 U.S. elections brought the problem of foreign influence on American politics into sharp relief. However, externally-sponsored subversion of U.S. decision making has been a shadowy threat to American policy for the better part of a century. Political Influence Operations provides an incisive examination of how external actors have infiltrated American society—from lobbyists, to academia, to the media—in order to further their own objectives. Tromblay draws upon historical examples to demonstrate how U.S. adversaries – and sometimes its ostensible allies – have used the openness of American society against the country’s best interests. By identifying vulnerabilities and exposing the underlying dynamics of foreign influence, the book provides a roadmap for U.S. governmental and private sector entities to navigate the currents of international engagement.
Trade ReviewTromblay boldly shows how the very structure of the U.S. government, American political culture, and modern political processes and actors converge to provide foreign entities with opportunities to influence U.S. politics. This is a disturbing but needed book. -- Nicholas Dujmovic, Assistant Professor of Politics, The Catholic University of America
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: Undiplomatic Activities Chapter Two: Cashing In: How Foreign Powers Leverage Hired U.S. Proxies as Intelligence Intermediaries Chapter Three: In Search of a Good Cause for a Bad Reason Chapter Four: Assaulting the Ivory Tower Chapter Five: Skewing the Presses: Foreign Manipulation of Media Chapter Six: Corrupting Culture: Foreign Actors’ Exploitation of the U.S. Melting Pot Ethos Chapter Seven: An Un-Fara-Fight Conclusion
