Glenn Corn (Former CIA): How History Becomes a Tool of Information Warfare | ALLATRA

In this second ALLATRA podcast with retired CIA intelligence officer Glenn Corn, he discusses how history can be used in modern information warfare and political influence.

With more than 34 years of experience in U.S. intelligence, diplomacy, and international security, including over two decades of service overseas in Central and South Asia and the Middle East, Professor Corn examines how Russian information campaigns use historical events and collective memory to shape public opinion and influence political decision-making.

His career began at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and later included senior positions within the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. military. Throughout his career, he coordinated large multinational teams and served in a number of American diplomatic missions abroad, working on issues related to international security and strategic affairs.

Today, Glenn Corn is a professor at the Institute of World Politics, where he teaches courses on Soviet and Russian intelligence and security services, as well as Turkish foreign policy, intelligence, and national security institutions.

During the conversation, Professor Corn explains why the memory of World War II remains a central element of contemporary Russian state policy and how selected historical narratives can be used to create the image of an external enemy, mobilize society, and justify political decisions.

Professor Corn also pays particular attention to how the Kremlin's so-called "anti-fascist" narrative functions as a political weapon in contemporary information operations against Ukraine and the West, as well as to the mechanisms through which fear, disinformation, and manipulated historical narratives can influence public opinion both inside Russia and internationally.

In the context of Russia's war against Ukraine, the discussion also explores narratives surrounding Donbas, the legacy of the Soviet period, and the use of historical myths in international information campaigns. Professor Corn further emphasizes the importance of historical literacy and critical thinking as essential tools for building resilience against disinformation and cognitive warfare.

The interview was produced by ALLATRA, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to public awareness, research, and education on climate and geodynamic risks, environmental issues (including microplastics and nanoplastics), and the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

This material is for informational and discussion purposes only. The statements, assessments, interpretations, conclusions, and hypotheses contained herein represent personal views of their authors as of the date of publication and do not constitute an official stance of the ALLATRA international organization or any other public association, organization, project, partner, or affiliated entity or person, unless expressly stated otherwise. 

Publication of this material provides an opportunity for open discussion and does not in itself imply institutional endorsement, confirmation, or scientific verification of the views expressed. The material does not constitute an official statement, expert opinion, or professional advice.