Svetlana Janković, 2026. Gender, disinformation, and security:new challenges for gender equality policies in the post-yugoslav space
In: Gender equality in the post-yugoslav space: challenges, policies and perspectives international scientific conference, International Scientific Conference, 21–22 May 2026, Belgrade, Serbia
Ed: Ankica Šobot, Belgrade, Institute of Social Sciences, 2026
Abstract: The contemporary security environment is increasingly shaped by hybrid threats, in which disinformation and information manipulation serve as instruments in political struggle. This paper examines gender-targeted disinformation as a tool for delegitimisation and social control. Through the lens of securitisation theory and strategic communications, it explores how gender roles are instrumentalised to mobilise the public and reproduce power structures.
The research investigates how these discourses shape securitisation in the post-Yugoslav context and their impact on public trust and gender equality policies. The empirical analysis is based on qualitative case studies from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018– 2024), focusing on media reporting and online communication.
Findings indicate that women in politics and activists are frequent targets of coordinated online attacks combining misogyny, conspiracy theories, and “foreign mercenary” narratives. This form of symbolic violence (sensu Pierre Bourdieu) challenges their political legitimacy based on identity rather than policy. While the international framework, notably UNSC Resolution 1325, acknowledges gender in security, it insufficiently addresses the digital dimensions of modern threats. In the region’s post-conflict settings, the stigmatisation of feminism and LGBTIQ individuals is utilised to provoke polarisation and undermine social cohesion.
The paper concludes that gender-targeted disinformation is a significant security challenge affecting democratisation and institutional trust. It highlights the need for a systemic integration of gender perspectives into counter-hybrid threat strategies. Furthermore, it advocates for developing institutional resilience through media literacy, regulatory frameworks, and robust support for women in public and political life.
Keywords: Ender-targeted disinformation, securitisation, strategic communications, gender equality, hybrid threats, post-Yugoslav space