V najnovejši epizodi podkasta GOVSI nadaljujemo s temo dezinformacij in informacijske vojne. Tokratni gost je Mykhailo Dankanych, ukrajinski veteran in strokovnjak za boj proti ruskim dezinformacijam, ki opozarja, da se informacijska fronta ne odvija le v Ukrajini, temveč tudi znotraj Evropske unije. V pogovoru z voditeljem Zoranom Potičem gost pojasni, da informacijska vojna ni ločen pojav, temveč del širše kognitivne vojne, katere cilj je širjenje kaosa, nezaupanja in razkrajanje družbene kohezije.

Priče kot najmočnejši odgovor na lažne narative
Dankanych izpostavi, da je eden najbolj učinkovitih načinov boja proti dezinformacijam pogovor z ljudmi, ki so dogodke doživeli na lastni koži. Svoje delo povezuje s projektom To Break the Fake, v okviru katerega zbira pričevanja nekdanjih ukrajinskih vojnih ujetnikov. Po njegovih besedah so prav njihove izkušnje ključne za razumevanje, kako se ruski narativi gradijo in utrjujejo skozi leta.

Ruski narativi v Evropi in tudi v Sloveniji
Gost poudari, da Rusija informacijsko deluje tudi v evropskem medijskem prostoru. Njegova ekipa spremlja medije v različnih državah EU in išče značilne propagandne fraze, ki se ponavljajo v proruskih narativih. Med najnovejše analizirane države uvrščajo tudi Slovenijo, kjer so zaznali več virov, ki širijo ruske dezinformacijske vzorce.

»Dezinformacij ni mogoče premagati — se pa moramo upirati«
Pomembno sporočilo epizode je, da dezinformacij ni mogoče v celoti odpraviti, saj se bodo z razvojem tehnologije in umetne inteligence širile še hitreje. Kljub temu je, kot poudarja Dankanych, ključno vztrajati: izobraževati, preverjati vire in krepiti kritično mišljenje že pri otrocih. Epizodo zaključi s pozivom: »Bodite skeptični.«

Pogovor si lahko ogledate na YouTube kanalu Vlade Republike Slovenije.

[ENGLISH VERSION]

On Disinformation in Russia's War against Ukraine
In the latest episode of the GOVSI podcast our guest is Mykhailo Dankanych, a Ukrainian veteran and expert in countering Russian disinformation, who warns that the information front is not taking place only in Ukraine, but also within the European Union.

In conversation with host Zoran Potič, the guest explains that information warfare is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of a broader cognitive war, aimed at spreading chaos, distrust and undermining social cohesion.

Witnesses as the strongest response to false narratives
Dankanych highlights that one of the most effective ways to fight disinformation is to speak with people who have experienced events first-hand. He connects his work to the project To Break the Fake, through which he collects testimonies from former Ukrainian prisoners of war. According to him, their experiences are essential for understanding how Russian narratives are constructed and reinforced over time.

Russian narratives in Europe—and in Slovenia as well
The guest emphasises that Russia also operates in the European media space. His team monitors media outlets across various EU countries, searching for recurring propaganda phrases that appear in pro-Russian narratives. Among the most recently analysed countries is Slovenia, where they have identified several sources spreading patterns typical of Russian disinformation.

»Disinformation cannot be defeated — but we must resist«
A key message of the episode is that disinformation cannot be completely eliminated, as it will spread even faster with the development of technology and artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, as Dankanych stresses, it is essential to persist: to educate, verify sources and strengthen critical thinking from an early age. He concludes the episode with a simple call: »Be sceptical.«

You can watch the episode on YouTube.

V 32. epizodi GOVSI podkasta je voditeljica Polona Prešeren gostila Simona Anholta, britanskega svetovalca, raziskovalca in avtorja ter utemeljitelja termina nation brand (angleško znamka države). Pogovor v angleškem jeziku je bil posvečen ugledu držav, javnim zaznavam ter strateškemu razmišljanju o tem, kako se države uveljavljajo v mednarodnem okolju.

Anholt je poudaril, da je nacionalna podoba veliko več kot promocija turizma ali odnosi z javnostmi. Gre za področje, ki vključuje ekonomijo, mednarodno pravo, mir in varnost, zgodovino, geografijo in kulturo. Ljudje realnost doživljamo skozi zaznave, zato imajo te enako težo kot dejstva. Raziskave kažejo močno povezanost med podobo države in njenim uspehom pri turizmu, investicijah, izvozu ter diplomaciji.

Analiza skoraj milijarde podatkov v raziskavi Anholt Nation Brands Index kaže, da države z najboljšimi podobami niso nujno najbogatejše ali najmočnejše, temveč tiste, za katere javnost verjame, da pozitivno prispevajo svetu zunaj svojih meja. V tem kontekstu je posebej izpostavil Slovenijo, ki je v zadnji izdaji Good Country Indexa zasedla 8. , Estonija pa 9. mesto, kar je po njegovi oceni izjemen dosežek za tako majhni državi.

V razpravi o znamki I feel Slovenia je Anholt poudaril pomen doslednosti: znamke se ne menja pogosto, ker se javnost nanjo naveže skozi dolgoročno ponavljanje. Logotipi in slogani niso odločilni sami po sebi, temveč so učinkoviti, ko odražajo skupne cilje in avtentično ravnanje države.

Vabljeni k ogledu in poslušanju epizode podkasta!

[ENGLISH VERSION]

In the 32nd episode of the GOVSI podcast, hosted by Polona Prešeren, we welcomed Simon Anholt – a British advisor, researcher and author, and the originator of the term nation brand. The conversation, held in English, focused on the reputation of countries, public perceptions, and strategic thinking about how nations establish themselves in the international environment.

Anholt stressed that a country’s image is far more than tourism promotion or public relations. It is a field that encompasses economics, international law, peace and security, history, geography and culture. People experience reality through perceptions, which is why perceptions carry the same weight as facts. Research shows a strong link between a country’s image and its performance in tourism, investment, exports and diplomacy.

An analysis of nearly a billion data points in the Anholt Nation Brands Index shows that countries with the best reputations are not necessarily the richest or most powerful, but those that the public believes contribute positively to the world beyond their borders. In this context, he highlighted Slovenia in particular. In the latest edition of the Good Country Index, Slovenia ranked 8th and Estonia 9th – an outstanding achievement for two such small countries, in his view.

Discussing the I feel Slovenia brand, Anholt underlined the importance of consistency: a brand should not be changed frequently, because the public connects with it through long-term repetition. Logos and slogans are not decisive on their own, but they become effective when they reflect shared goals and authentic national behaviour.

The GOVSI podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and on the YouTube channel of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

V novi epizodi vladnega GOVSI podkasta je finančni minister Klemen Boštjančič spregovoril o sprejetih proračunih za leti 2026 in 2027, ključnih prioritetah vlade ter izvedenih reformah, ki po njegovih besedah krepijo finančno stabilnost in razvoj države.

Minister je izpostavil, da med osrednje prioritete vlade sodijo vlaganja v zdravstvo, izobraževanje, raziskave in stanovanjsko politiko, saj gre za področja, ki so bila v preteklosti povsem zapostavljena. Poudaril je, da vlada vodi vzdržno fiskalno politiko, ki omogoča investicije v dolgoročni razvoj – od gradnje novih fakultet do največjega podatkovnega centra v državi.

Ponosen je, da je vladi uspelo vsako leto doseči dogovor z občinami o povprečnini, letos v višini 835 evrov, ter izvesti nekatere ključne reforme: od reforme plačnega sistema v javnem sektorju do pokojninske reforme in vzpostavitve sistema dolgotrajne oskrbe.

Ob tem je izpostavil, da so tudi zato vse večje bonitetne agencije v zadnjem letu zvišale oceno Slovenije.

Dotaknil se je tudi naraščajočih izdatkov za varnost, ki jih vidi kot nujo v spremenjenih globalnih razmerah, ter razkril, da so mu kitajski vlagatelji ob obisku predlagali izdajo tako imenovane »Luka Dončić obveznice«.

Vabljeni k ogledu in poslušanju epizode podkasta!

[ENGLISH VERSION]

Minister Boštjančič: »Investments in knowledge, health and security are investments in the future«

In the latest episode of the government GOVSI podcast, Minister of Finance Klemen Boštjančič presented the adopted state budgets for 2026 and 2027, the government’s key development priorities and the implemented reforms that contribute to strengthening Slovenia’s financial stability and long-term development.

The Minister underlined that the government’s main priorities include investments in healthcare, education, research and housing policy, as these are areas that had been significantly neglected in the past. He emphasized that the government is pursuing a responsible fiscal policy that enables investments in sustainable development – from the construction of new university faculties to the establishment of the country’s largest data centre.

Minister Boštjančič expressed satisfaction that the government has reached agreements with municipalities on the level of per capita funding (povprečnina) each year of its mandate, amounting to EUR 835 for the next period, and that it has implemented several key reforms, including the public sector pay reform, the pension reform and the introduction of the long-term care system.

He noted that these efforts have also been recognised internationally, as all major credit rating agencies upgraded Slovenia’s rating over the past year, confirming the country’s fiscal stability and credibility.

The Minister also referred to increased security-related expenditures, which he described as a necessity in light of changing global circumstances. During his recent visit to China, he said, investors even suggested issuing a »Luka Dončić bond«, illustrating Slovenia’s growing visibility and positive reputation abroad.

Tune in on your favourite platform to listen or watch the episode of podcast and enjoy the experience!