Mysterious, hidden in the depths of the Carpathian lush vegetation, a powerful stone castle, inside a pale figure dressed in a long black cape with a red lining – this kind of Romania imagines the majority of tourists in Europe thanks to pop-culture vampire fashion. A colorful land strewn with corn and sunflower fields is associated with Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Ţepes), Walachian prince and the prototype of Bram Stoker’s main character from the book named ”Dracula”. While walking around the capital, we can admire the support of the charismatic Lord, and the ruins of the castle in which lived Dukes of Wallachia – Curtea Veche. However, Bucharest also has a different side that welcomes, hospitability, politeness and openness which immediately catch the eye, not encountered in the capitals of western European countries. Passers-by willingly provide help, directions, a cute lady in the subway save by means of pharmaceutical products – the true side of Romania, sunny, mystical, friendly and helpful – not dark in any way.  Fake news and a false historical narrative in the media, this is one of the brightest examples: Vlad III was an emperor like everyone else in his day, he did not drink blood, he was not afraid of garlic – he was only a prominent military strategist. Whose falsified history by German settlers was a deliberate procedure aiming to ruin his silhouette. The topic perfectly fits into the theme of GeoPolitica Summer School, 17^th edition, July 2018. For four days participants of Summer School discussed the role of fake news, hybrid warfare, manipulation and propaganda in shaping the contemporary society of Central and Eastern Europe, their influence on geopolitical and social conditions, the value of true and false information and the possibilities of both good and evil. The subject of falsification of information possessed and its specific distribution in recent times is one of the most important problems of modern society and the media sphere. In Bucharest, steps have been taken to define this relatively young phenomenon that has developed with the development of social media and the digitization of society. Leading scientists, politicians, social activists, journalists, entrepreneurs, PhD students and students tried to find answers to these difficult questions. This year, the conference has expanded its international group with new participants arriving, among others, from various parts of Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Iraq, Libya and South Africa. Under the leadership of the Founder and Head Director of ”Revista GeoPolitica” Prof. dr. Simileanu Vasile the participants discussed the importance of information, using it as a weapon, attempts of disinformation which became much more pro-active and widespread phenomena with technological development and the role of fake news in the social and political life of countries. Particularly here, in the business centers in Central and Eastern Europe, whose communities are especially exposed to hybrid warfare, political and media propaganda, disinformation and falsification of both media and historical narrative, the scientific approach to the subject is particularly important. In the face of the events of the last few years in Europe and in the world, we have seen many times that the war is taking place not only in its military edition but also in the media and virtual life that has become the alter ego of the real one. A common discussion made us realize how important information or its fabricated antagonism is an important element of a shared media and social life. It gave an impulse to take appropriate steps towards opposing the falsification of life through disinformation and propaganda control of the society. The very attitude of participants aimed at defining the threats resulting from the unreflective use of mainstream media is a milestone in the new reality called social life. Like a star which marks the path of the traveler, such a shared position heard from Bucharest gives impulse for the contemporary European society, set a new direction, a path which should follow other countries. In the context of cross-border cooperation and the Carpathian Euroregion, this is an important impulse that will trigger a reaction to offensive actions and interference by third parties in the internal affairs of these countries. It is important to maintain a common position and one important voice in this matter as a counterweight to the interference of foreign services and the army of trolls in social and international relations aimed at breaking down cooperation. Drawing conclusions from the meeting discussion and analysis of modern media and political phenomena raised this year can be an example for the rest of the European countries to pay more attention to the issues of intentional falsification of information and overt attempts to disinformation.
And the strength of the news itself…
See you next year!
Delfina ERTANOWSKA, MA – Master in Journalism, Media and Communication – Interactive Marketing, University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, Poland