Description
This paper argues that deceptive narratives can be a deliberate strategy used by states not only to destabilise adversaries but also as a method to restore their own ontological security during crises of meaning. Typically viewed as a tool to undermine others, deception is reframed here as a method of restorative disinformation, where states deploy false or manipulated information to reassert their identity. Unlike traditional propaganda, which builds coherent identities through truthful or one-sided storytelling, restorative disinformation protects the Self by distorting facts, reshaping narratives to foster ambiguity and mistrust. Drawing on insights from narrative theory, the paper explores how and why states deploy deceptive narratives as a strategy to alleviate crises of meaning and restore ontological security, particularly when traditional methods of authentic, affirming storytelling fail or are inadequate.
The argument is illustrated through a narrative and a semiotic analysis of China’s (dis)information campaign on Xinjiang following the two 2019 letters to the United Nations Human Rights Council—one signed by states condemning China for human rights violations and the other defending it. It examines key textual and visual materials, including the whole universe of White Papers published on Xinjiang and short docufilms released on Chinese embassy websites. The narrative analysis focuses on how China reconstructs events and key issues to counter external criticism, while the semiotic analysis explores the visual metaphors, tropes, and symbolic elements embedded in the promotional materials. This dual approach highlights how deceptive narratives are crafted both through language and imagery.
This paper addresses a gap in ontological security studies, where security mechanisms have been categorised, but the specific methods employed by states remain underexplored. It also challenges the assumption that disinformation is purely an offensive tool, suggesting instead that it can also function as a restorative response to states’ perceived crises of meaning.
