In a new CMC Finland Working Paper “Divide and Control: An Overview of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI)“Sampo Collander draws on the latest research and policy documents to provide a brief introduction to FIMI: defining what it is, identifying the actors involved, and explaining their methods and motivations.
The paper also examines the potential impacts of these activities and the actions taken to counter them. The focus is on the European Union and its crisis management missions related to the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). While this brief does not claim to be an exhaustive analysis, it aims to provide the basic knowledge and key terminology necessary to grasp this complex subject.
What is FIMI?
Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) is a mostly non-illegal pattern of behaviour that threatens or negatively impacts values, procedures, and political processes. It is manipulative, intentional, and conducted in an intentional and coordinated manner by state or non-state actors, including their proxies.
FIMI has become an urgent issue to address in the field of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), as FIMI campaigns frequently target public opinion regarding EU civilian missions and military operations abroad.
The EU’s FIMI Toolbox tackles versatile risks
Since war started in Ukraine in 2014, FIMI has emerged as a critical issue in European security and foreign policy discussions. Russia and China, in particular, seek to undermine democratic institutions and distract societies by fostering mistrust and division. The paper shows that rather than just exploiting occasional opportunities to interfere, they utilise FIMI as a strategic instrument of their foreign policy.
To maximise impact, FIMI activities are often synchronised with major events, such as political summits, elections, national emergencies, or official state visits, to maximise public attention. FIMI campaigns targeted at EU’s civilian missions seek to diminish a mission’s popularity, erode diplomatic relations, and, in extreme cases, may lead to physical hostility against personnel and assets on the ground. The EU has developed the FIMI Toolbox to tackle multi-faceted and multi-level setup of threats and risks.
CMC Working Papers series analyses phenomena related to crisis management and peace operations and makes recommendations on how to develop these activities.
