Pop-Propaganda: How the Kremlin Markets Its War Like Disney & Coca-Cola

How does the Kremlin sell Putin, the war in Ukraine, and the erosion of freedoms in the age of the attention economy? Modern Russian propaganda is much more than angry talk-show hosts waving missiles on TV or troll farms flooding social media. It’s influencers, streaming platforms, and marketing campaigns that advertise the Kremlin’s agenda the same way Nike advertises its sneakers. This lecture will explore how the Kremlin’s information apparatus no longer relies solely on agitprop and censorship, instead functioning like a slick media conglomerate that seamlessly blends state messaging and pop culture.