Agent of influence is a term describing people who use their position to influence the decision making or public opinion in one country to produce results beneficial to another.

The term is used both to describe conscious agents operating under the control of an intelligence service and people who may be classed as "useful idiots" that is, someone unaware of how their actions further the interests of a foreign power. A related concept is that of a front organization.

Critics have argued that the term can be applied to people who simply act according to their political views.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was enacted in 1938, and 22 U.S.Code § 611 et seq provides detailed definitions of what constitutes an agent of influence under US Law.

Characteristics

As described by users of the concept the primary characteristic that distinguishes agents of influence from spies is the absence of involvement in espionage or other criminal activities. Thus, the term may be applied to political actors whose views are seen as supporting another country.

According to Angelo Codevilla, using these agents is an act of war "in the same sense that armies crashing across border or airplanes dropping bombs are acts of war because their results can be as intrusive or conclusive as the results of armies or bombs."

Criticism

Criticising the concept, John Girling writes At the time of his exposure he had significant support among US politicians and only went to jail for lying under oath about passing documents to the Soviet Union.

  • Novica Antić, chair of the Serbian Military Trade Union, alleged to be a Russian agent of influence meeting with members of the European Parliament.
  • Donald Trump: 45th and 47th president of the United States, alleged to be a Russian agent of influence by experienced intelligence personnel, such as "veteran American spies, spymasters, and spy-catchers", including Leon Panetta.

See also

  • McCarthyism
  • Mole (espionage)
  • Red Scare
  • Sleeper agent
  • Useful idiot

References

  • Interview with Ralph de Toledano
  • Agents of Influence—from Soviet Active Measures in the "Post-Cold War Era" 1988–1991
  • The United States Department of Justice - The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)