Stephan Blancke PhD
(Dr. Stephan Blancke is a political scientist whose research focuses on the intelligence and clandestine activities of North Korea and China. Previously he worked in an Intelligence and Analysis Unit in the United Kingdom Home Office and was a researcher at King’s College in London. He is a contributor to Jane’s Intelligence Review, Intelligence Online, NK News and others. Since 2022, he has been an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. Dr. Blancke may be contacted through his personal website, which is available at Stephan.blancke.de/)
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European Intelligence Academy (EIA) Research Paper Series # 6 - January 2024
Note: The information and views set out in this research paper are those of the author and do
not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Intelligence Academy. Neither
the European Intelligence Academy, the Research Institute for European and American
Studies, nor the any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use
which may be made of the information contained therein. Responsibility for the information
and views set out in this research paper lies entirely with the author.
Introduction
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, protests against the restrictive measures
taken by the authorities to contain the spread of the virus occurred in many European Union
(EU) countries from spring 2020 onwards. The protests attracted ordinary citizens as well as
a diverse crowd of conspiracy theorists, esotericists and extremists.