How Vladimir Putin Embraced The Art of War and Foundations of Geopolitics to Penetrate the United States Government
By Michael Kelman Portney
In examining Vladimir Putin's strategies to influence and destabilize Western democracies, particularly the United States, it becomes clear that many of his tactics align closely with both Sun Tzu’s principles in *The Art of War* and Alexander Dugin’s ideological blueprint in *Foundations of Geopolitics*. Putin's approach has not relied on traditional military force but rather on a blend of psychological, political, and economic tactics that exploit vulnerabilities, sow division, and undermine the stability of democratic institutions. This analysis will explore how Putin’s strategy reflects key teachings from *The Art of War*, as well as the guiding ideas from *Foundations of Geopolitics* and the impact of these methods on the United States government and society.
1. Indirect Warfare and the Power of Psychological Tactics
Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of winning wars without direct confrontation, stating that “the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” Putin’s strategy exemplifies this principle, as he has employed a range of indirect methods to weaken and destabilize the U.S. without engaging in open military conflict. Here, *Foundations of Geopolitics* also plays a significant role, advocating for psychological and cultural tactics to weaken adversaries from within.
Cyber Warfare and Disinformation Campaigns: One of Putin’s most effective tools has been his use of cyber warfare and disinformation to create confusion, mistrust, and division within the United States. Dugin’s *Foundations of Geopolitics* explicitly suggests using information warfare to erode Western societies, emphasizing that Russia should weaponize cultural and ideological differences to destabilize opponents. By exploiting existing social and political fractures, Putin’s tactics align with Sun Tzu’s principle of “attacking where the enemy is unprepared” and Dugin’s vision of information warfare to erode public trust and cohesion.
Sowing Division as a Tool of Influence: Another key principle from *The Art of War* is the idea of “using the enemy’s own strength against them.” By highlighting and exacerbating existing divisions, Putin has been able to turn America’s diversity into a vulnerability. This tactic is reinforced by Dugin’s *Foundations of Geopolitics*, which promotes deepening societal rifts in the United States to reduce its global influence. The 2016 election interference, for example, included targeted ads and social media posts that played on issues of race and partisanship, aiming to polarize American voters and undermine confidence in democratic processes.
Influence Operations within U.S. Political Circles: Rather than directly confront American power, Putin has skillfully utilized influence operations, cultivating relationships with certain U.S. politicians, business leaders, and media figures. By aligning himself with individuals and organizations sympathetic to his interests, he has been able to exert influence within the United States’ own political system, much as Sun Tzu advises that “he who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious.” This subtle infiltration allows Putin to achieve influence without overtly compromising his position, which Dugin’s work suggests is essential to degrading Western power from within.
2. Exploiting Weaknesses: Identifying and Targeting American Vulnerabilities
According to Sun Tzu, understanding one’s opponent is essential: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Putin’s strategy has involved a keen understanding of American weaknesses, from media fragmentation to political partisanship, and a calculated approach to exploiting these vulnerabilities. Dugin’s work, meanwhile, provides the ideological foundation for this exploitation, encouraging Russia to attack liberal democracies by taking advantage of their open media and cultural pluralism.
Targeting Media Fragmentation: The decentralized nature of American media has provided an opportunity for Russian influence. Dugin advocates for exploiting these kinds of structural weaknesses in adversarial nations. Putin’s strategy has leveraged this fragmentation, using social media “bot” networks to flood American channels with content designed to deepen political divides. This approach reflects Sun Tzu’s concept of attacking “soft spots” within an opponent’s structure and Dugin’s idea that a fractured media landscape in a democracy is an ideal battleground for psychological warfare.
Undermining Confidence in Democratic Institutions: A central goal of Putin’s strategy is to erode Americans’ faith in their own democratic institutions. By highlighting and inflaming perceived flaws within U.S. institutions, he has successfully cast doubt on the legitimacy of the electoral system, the judiciary, and other pillars of American governance. This tactic mirrors Sun Tzu’s advice to “appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak,” as Russia projects an image of stability to contrast with an America in turmoil. Dugin’s *Foundations of Geopolitics* similarly suggests that by undermining Western institutions, Russia can weaken its adversaries from within, reducing their capacity to project power abroad.
Fomenting Distrust Among Allies: Putin has also used his influence to strain America’s relationships with its allies. *Foundations of Geopolitics* emphasizes the importance of destabilizing alliances like NATO, viewing the weakening of Western alliances as crucial to Russia’s geopolitical objectives. Through strategic leaks, media campaigns, and diplomatic maneuvers, Putin has managed to sow doubt and mistrust within these alliances. Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of isolating an opponent, and Putin’s approach reflects this principle, weakening America’s global influence by driving wedges between it and its traditional partners.
3. Psychological Manipulation and Exploiting Perception
Sun Tzu advised that “all warfare is based on deception.” Putin’s approach to influencing the United States has relied heavily on psychological manipulation and the careful control of perception to achieve his goals. This aligns with Dugin’s recommendations in *Foundations of Geopolitics* to employ deception and psychological tactics to weaken Western ideological coherence.
The Use of “Active Measures: The Soviet concept of “active measures,” which includes a range of covert tactics like disinformation, subversion, and psychological manipulation, has been central to Putin’s strategy. *Foundations of Geopolitics* suggests that these tactics should remain central to Russia’s long-term strategy. By reviving this Cold War-era tactic, Putin has continued Russia’s legacy of influence operations, aiming to shape how Americans perceive not only Russia but also their own country. This reflects Sun Tzu’s belief in using the “subtlest methods of spying” to “divine the enemy’s intentions,” as Putin seeks to mold the American psyche in ways that serve his objectives.
Fostering a Culture of Paranoia and Mistrust: By continuously promoting conspiracy theories and sowing seeds of distrust, Putin has managed to create a sense of paranoia among Americans. This tactic makes it difficult for U.S. citizens to trust information, institutions, or even each other, a scenario Sun Tzu would view as ideal for weakening an opponent from within. When the public is caught in a cycle of mistrust, they become less capable of organized resistance or unified action. This reflects Dugin’s vision in *Foundations of Geopolitics*, where destabilizing the moral and ideological cohesion of Western societies is key to diminishing their global influence.
Weaponizing Ideology and Cultural Conflicts: Putin has been able to use ideological divisions within the U.S. to his advantage. By stoking fears around issues like immigration, race, and religious values, he has used American values against itself, much like Sun Tzu’s strategy of “appearing in places unexpected.” This approach creates conflict in unpredictable ways, diverting attention from real threats and weakening America’s societal cohesion, in line with Dugin’s call for Russia to amplify ideological and cultural conflicts within adversarial nations.
4. Adapting and Evolving: Flexibility in Strategy
Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of flexibility, writing, “In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.” Putin’s approach to America is marked by his flexibility and willingness to change tactics as new vulnerabilities and opportunities arise. This adaptability is in line with Dugin’s call for a dynamic, opportunistic approach to weaken Western democracies.
Shifting Tactics Based on American Responses: Putin’s approach has been one of continual adaptation. When certain tactics, like targeted political ads, become widely recognized, he shifts his focus to other methods, such as direct cyber attacks or influence within political movements. This ability to pivot in response to American awareness reflects Sun Tzu’s principle of being “formless,” adapting to the conditions and exploiting new openings as they emerge. Dugin also emphasizes this fluid approach, urging Russian strategists to capitalize on whatever new divisions or weaknesses arise within Western nations.
Undermining Cyber Defenses and Infrastructure: Cyber warfare is a particularly flexible domain that allows for continual adaptation and escalation. Putin has used cyber attacks not only to disrupt American institutions but also to test vulnerabilities, probing for weaknesses and adjusting his approach in real time. Sun Tzu would view this as striking where the opponent is unprepared, a hallmark of effective indirect warfare. *Foundations of Geopolitics* also advocates for attacking technological infrastructures as a means of weakening and destabilizing adversarial nations.
Exploiting American Predictability: One of the strengths of Putin’s approach is his ability to exploit American predictability. He understands the patterns of American media, politics, and public reaction, using these predictable responses to his advantage. This echoes Sun Tzu’s idea that “the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” By anticipating how the U.S. will respond to his actions, Putin can use these responses against America, creating a loop that benefits his objectives and aligns with Dugin’s recommendation to exploit Western institutions’ openness and transparency.
Conclusion: The Long-Term Impact of Putin’s Strategy and Lessons from Sun Tzu and Foundations of Geopolitics
Putin’s approach to undermining the United States reflects a sophisticated application of *The Art of War*’s principles, using indirect influence, deception, and psychological manipulation to achieve his goals. His strategy also draws from Dugin’s *Foundations of Geopolitics*, which provides an ideological and tactical blueprint for weakening Western power from within. By understanding American vulnerabilities, exploiting societal divisions, and adapting his tactics, Putin has managed to weaken the U.S. without resorting to open conflict.
For the United States, countering these strategies requires an equally nuanced understanding of *The Art of War* and the insights provided in *Foundations of Geopolitics*. America must strengthen its internal cohesion, improve media literacy to combat disinformation, and adopt flexible, indirect strategies that can counteract foreign influence without exacerbating internal divisions. Sun Tzu’s teachings on adaptability, deception, and indirect strategy, combined with an awareness of Dugin’s ideological influence, offer essential insights for how America can respond to modern threats like those posed by Putin, underscoring the need for a strategic recalibration that embraces resilience, unity, and intelligence.
