“Vaccinodemic” as a component of the global hybrid conflict between democracy and autocracy: the case of Ukraine
“Vaccinodemic” as a component of the global hybrid conflict between democracy and autocracy: the case of Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: Today, there is no doubt that the large-scale invasion of Ukraineby Russian troops in February 2022 represents just another phase of the Rus- so-Ukrainian War that has lasted for nine years. There are many aspects to thisconfrontation. The consequences of the war will affect the future of the worldorder. It will include such aspects as security, formation of new political blocs,force interaction of political regimes, the choice of state-building models bythe countries, the art of war, the role of civil society, and strengthening ofthe informational component in the confrontation between states and theiralliances. Russia-Iran has already emerged as one such aggressive alliance. Inthe article, the authors explain the phenomenon of the infodemic and one ofits structural elements, the “vaccinodemic”.The COVID-19 pandemic became a vivid example of the global clash of actorsin international relations that implement conflicting ideologies – democraticor authoritarian rule in the social and political life of their states – and realizesuch aspects in foreign policy. The authors assert that the current situationin Ukraine, namely, the open military Russian invasion and the further aggravation of the security crisis, primarily in the European region, are only thenext phase of an ideological confrontation that could be observed duringthe response to the COVID-19 pandemic by humanity. Now, this confrontation continues in a more aggressive, conventional format. Manifestations ofthe infodemic and its unique form, the “vaccinodemic”, captured the essenceof the global confrontation, which will determine international processes fordecades. Namely, Russia’s fight between democracy and authoritarianism hasacquired neo-totalitarian characteristics. This fight will determine, in additionto other social phenomena, the structure and content of the global information space. It is noted that authoritarian regimes have shown some success inaddressing the pandemic, which may aggravate the rivalry between democ- racy and authoritarianism, as the former will have to prove its effectivenessand long-term advantages.

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