The narrative construction of disinformation: Reach and impact in Central and Eastern Europe

This study analyzes the reach and impact of disinformation narratives within four Central-Eastern Europe countries: the Czech Republic, Kosovo, Poland, and Serbia. Using survey data collected in mid-2023, we examine how citizens have been exposed to common disinformation narratives (reach) and how this prior exposure influences their belief in them (impact). The results provide empirical information on this underrepresented area, which highlights that the repeated, reinforcing impact of previous exposure is a universal cognitive mechanism. This study contributes to the literature in two significant ways. In theory, they demonstrate the value of shifting from a claim-based to a narrative-based paradigm, which is much more similar to the clustering, emotional appeal, and ideological framing of disinformation. The findings provide empirical evidence from an underrepresented region in the study of disinformation, demonstrating how foreign-sponsored and domestically produced narratives hijack all of those concerns and exploit existing political divisions, historical grievances, and media weaknesses.