History can be a powerful tool of state influence. This briefing by Mr Matthew Redhead, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) examines how states manipulate historical material, narratives and reputations to support information and influence operations. It explores methods including selective archival releases, documentary redactions, forgeries, historical fiction and film, alongside the emerging use of generative AI and deepfakes. The research considers how these activities can shape perceptions and undermine the resilience of target societies, providing policymakers, practitioners and researchers with a framework for understanding historical manipulation as a form of state threat.

This research project explores the relationship between governments and criminal organisations in the context of state-sponsored assassinations. The relationship has been researched in diverse academic disciplines, including criminology, international relations and intelligence studies.

Russia’s use of corporate, financial and legal structures to support covert activity has become an increasingly important aspect of hybrid threats facing the UK, Europe and partner states. This research will generate information that can be used by private sector actors (e.g. banks) for compliance purposes, such as client due diligence, as well as policymakers for identifying gaps in investment screening and sanctions.

Awareness has grown in recent years over the role that Chinese Professional Money Laundering Organisations (PMLOs) play in facilitating transnational crime and the threat that this poses to countries in the West. Whilst their rise can be seen to coincide with Chinese state decisions, such as its capital controls that prevent the free flow of money out of the country, there is little research on the potential links between Chinese PMLOs and the Chinese state, including on the question as to whether Chinese PMLO activity should be considered alongside other state threats. This research will, a) look into the evolution of the Chinese PMLO threat, comparing well-established operations in the US and Canada with more nascent operations seen in Europe, and b) explore their role in the context of Chinese state activity.

In the last decade, states have faced a rising tide of hostile activities from other states and their proxies, often referred to as ‘state threats’. In a series of SOC ACE-supported workshops in 2023, a taskforce of experienced experts and practitioners identified the need for a more nuanced definition of state threats. This project addresses the language used to discuss state threats or similar concepts (e.g., hybrid, greyzone), and, using a clearer conceptual framework, map out the current character of state threats.