121 Nerijus Maliukevičius * Institute of International Relations and Political Science, University of Vilnius Geopolitics and Information Warfare: Russia’s Approach This article explores the viewpoint prevailing among Russian researchers in respect to the transformation of geopolitics in the Information Age. It focuses on the changes in the concepts of power and space, which resulted in the emergence of information geopolitics as an important problem for scientific analysis. The article discusses information warfare, which is perceived in Russia as a tool for implementing modern geopolitical strategies. Traditional manipulation techniques and mediagenic crisis scenarios are analysed. The concept of a national information culture, which performs the function of protecting modern society from information attacks, is also introduced in this article. A tendency has recently emerged in information warfare studies and practical politics to deal with the problem of information security by imposing traditional bans and restrictions. Since such an approach does not suit open democratic societies, this article proposes alternative methods of addressing information security issues. Preface The information revolution, globalisation, 1 and internationalisation 2 have transformed modern international relations. They are now developing within a global information environment, 3 where new principles of political cooperation, competition, or conflicts between the subjects of an international system are set out. In this environment, political processes occur in real time, geographic barriers lose their former significance, and the very concept of geopolitics is changing. With Lithuania determined to become a dynamic actor on international arena and with a view of successfully attaining Lithuania’s foreign policy goals, it is necessary to understand how modern geopolitics is perceived in Russia, a country which exerted and continues to exert a strong influence on Lithuania. * Nerijus Maliukevičius is a PhD candidate, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, University of Vilnius. Address: Vokiečių 10, LT-01130 Vilnius, Lithuania, tel. +370-5-2514130, e-mail: maliukevicius@yahoo.com 1 Globalisation means a worldwide consolidation of information and technological standards, management and production patterns, and assimilation of social and political structures, cultures and values, promoting the creation of joint institutions and regimes. 2 Internationalisation means an increasing interconnection between different subjects of international rela- tions, uniting them into a single community wherein national and cultural identity is preserved. 3 Global information environment means interacting or conficting states, institutions, cultures or religions interconnected by information, telecommunications or media links which are unrestricted by geographical or time barriers.