Humankind has a tendency to follow patterns based on its collective nature. In today’s world, the saber-rattling over social media by Donald Trump, along with vast disinformation collectives push hostile misdirection en masse. Does this really matter over the longer term?
If you read my novel, From Terror to Valor: Echoes and Shadows–the implications of clandestine misdirection have a longer reach than any one person. In my forthcoming web serial, Hindsight Station: Ashes Reborn, such misdirection aided nuclear war–and from it a new reality for humankind.
Disinformation Is Information
These fictional worlds struggle with the impact of highly structured disinformation collectives. The hands of hostile parties sculpt the impact of their disinformation campaigns. The battering ram of hopelessness is their goal. Yet, without our participation, they have literally no power in a key aspect of their offensive strategies.
This reverse interpretation of disinformation also applies in our real world. The digital offensive by the Trump regime, which aggressively attacked European allies, is evidence of this. It has led to a breach of implicit trust dating back to world world two–yet it did not break the relationship entirely.
Disinformation Attacks So Democracies React
Despite the long list of horrible actions by the Trump regime, they have found through their actions that their ability to exist is ally dependent. Disenfranchising long standing relationships creates enemies from friends, which even the Trump regime must answer to the American people for.
In my web serial, Hindsight Station: Ashes Reborn–the repetitive nature of conquest at all costs led to a nuclear holocaust and a fundamental change among the survivors. The terrible event unveils an absolute belief in destruction, along with a change of paradigm for survivors.
Yet, in our real world–we do not come close to that level of threat despite what many online conspiracy theorists and disinformation collectives may try to tell you. My exploration as a writer of such manipulative disinformation concepts are also present in real-world democracies.
Democracy Is Us
The challenge we all face is knowing who we are. Faced with such a bold challenge by hostile disinformation collectives, we in Europe have our wake-up call. We can elect to hang on to a ruined relationship with the United States to shore up our security in an outdated model, or we can react.
Hostile parties to our east and west have aggressively attacked the collective consensus in Europe for some years now. The shadow war rages in this context, and it affects us all. Digital engagement by nation states is all it takes to be directly affected by hybrid warfare strategies.
If one travels the length and breadth of Europe, different nation states will embrace strategy and tactics unevenly. While understandable, every European must reflect on the impact of these times regarding who we are. Is democracy us? Is it worth fighting for?
From Terror to Valor: Echoes and Shadows, available at your favorite digital bookstore
All that said, the consensus is still clear. We value our past, our present, and our future in the relative freedoms of what is means to be a European. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” A wise American counseled able-bodied Europeans, and we should heed her advice.
About the Author
As I move onto my next authoring project, I will post less frequently on the real-world issues linked to my novel, From Terror to Valor: Echoes and Shadows. Stay tuned for updates on Hindsight Station: Ashes Reborn—where the future remembers you. It is a progression science fiction web-novel. Advance chapters will be delivered via Patreon and catch up for free on Wattpad.
John is a versatile author known for his gripping fiction narratives in the thriller, action, and science fiction genres. With a background as a journalist since 2016, and expertise in cloud technologies as an engineer; John brings a unique blend of storytelling prowess and technical acumen to his work.
