Agents of Influence: How the KGB Subverted Western Democracies

by Mark Hollingsworth

'A gripping story filled with remarkable revelations.' Tom Bower, author of Revenge

There’s no such thing as a former KGB man.

Agents of Influence reveals the secret history of an intelligence agency gone out of control, accountable to no one but itself and intent on subverting Western politics on a near-inconceivable scale. In 1985, 1,300 KGB officers were stationed in the USA. The FBI only had 350 counter-intelligence officers. Since the early days of the Cold War, the KGB seduced parliamentarians and diplomats, infiltrated the highest echelons of the Civil Service, and planted fake news in papers across the world.

More disturbingly, it never stopped. Putin is a KGB man through and through. Journalist Mark Hollingworth reveals how disinformation, kompromat and secret surveillance continue to play key roles in Russia’s war with Ukraine. It seems frighteningly easy to destabilise Western democracy.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Russia, Politics, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[John Geddes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is next to useless, because while the book talks about the KGB's uses of Tactical Disinformation (document forgeries, fake news stories, etc.) its says nothing about the KGB's uses of Strategic Disinformation, the use of disinformation to misrepresent and hide state policy, which was exposed by KGB Defector Anatoliy Golitsyn.
Anatoliy Golitsyn is not mentioned once (not for lack of the author being unaware of him, on p.111-2 the author briefly mentioned KGB spy John Vassall and the fact he was exposed by "a KGB defector", that defector in question being Golitsyn) and his books New Lies for Old https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
and The Perestroika Deception https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
are not referenced at all, meaning that when the author makes reference to the continuity of Soviet policy in Modern Russia, it is always shallow because the author has no clue about the underlining source of that continuity, that being the Leninist General Line put in place between 1957 to 1960.
Setting aside that, I have other issues with this book such as the fact that there's no real narrative to the book and it's just feels like the author just put together related stories about KGB espionage with the most loosest attempt to tie it together, the worst example being Chapter 6 which is all about Helen O'Brien and her Eve's Club, which she let MI5 use for their counter intelligence spying, the only thing the club had to do with the KGB was that agents of the KGB went there for drinks and to see dancers, it's completely irrelevant to the book.
There is very little primary sources used, with many of the citations coming from fairly recent works, one being from 2022, a year before this book was published.
Finally, on p.84 at the end of Chapter 3, the author out of nowhere cites the words of Gay Atheist Jew Yuval Harari in calling the Bible "Fake News", the KGB would be proud.

[Pedro Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is written in a mix of quick fact-pong from a lot of sources, with some more lengthy character developments (Helen O'Brien, the Romanian born/London based, MI5 informant, the most intriguing/gripping one).
The historic timeline is not straightforward, as the author jumps back and forth quite often to introduce different characters.
The amount of research to expose small/medium KGB projects is staggering: the bibliography is quite extensive which adds value to the journalistic work.
The beginning of the book seems almost like a reverse of the main theme of the book: we have the idea this is a CIA influence operation, such is the disparage of Soviet foreign policy and its over-reliance on intelligence to make strategic decisions.
However, as pages go by, the author passes a good picture of how smearing, discredit and sowing chaos form one of the foundations of Soviet/Russia modus operandi, enabling a not-so-thriving-economically society to keep the whole West on its toes. It is very easy to make a parallel to the current polarized society of nowadays.

[Rui Torres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este livro fala-nos sobre uma organização de espionagem. As suas ideias e as suas intenções são aqui, expostos por inúmeros episódios que nos chegam por diversos agentes, intervenientes e/ou acontecimentos históricos.

O funcionamento do KGB e as formas utilizadas pelos mesmos para destabilizar o mundo ocidental ganham voz através das mãos de Hollingsworth. O papel desempenhado da organização na Guerra Fria, a superioridade perante a contraespionagem americana, as infiltrações nos mais diversos estados através de elementos diplomáticos, nas administrações, entre muitos outros.

A ascensão do regime através da censura e da encenação de notícias falsas são a bandeira desta livro. As táticas usadas pelo comunismo para silenciar os seus opositores, a opressão exercida, a chantagem, entre muitas outras perseguições feitas à liberdade individual.

O controlo e a manipulação de informação assumem um poder singular. A tentativa de construir uma sociedade com base na mentira é um perigo e este livro espelha isso muito bem.

Um livro muito oportuno.

[Marin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently, the Soviet intelligence spent three times more money and manpower in trying to subvert the political and social life of the Western countries by using agents of influence and propaganda than they did in espionage.
The book describes the methods used by KGB and its followers to attract and/or blackmail politicians and other personalities in order to use them as agents of influence and how propaganda with hidden origins was produced and distributed in order to demonise the democratic system and some political personalities.
I enjoyed reading it but by the end of it I learnt very little - no new disclosures, and there were lots of quotes from other books.
It is still a good reminder that both in the past and now, the Russians invest immensely in trying to discredit Western democracies:
‘The Russian Intelligence Service’s purpose is not only to acquire information but to manufacture information, destroy sources of foreign information, terrorise, assassinate and proselytise as occasion demands. In short, Soviet intelligence sets out to subvert the political and social life of a foreign country.’

[Eric Grounds · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should be read by anyone with an interest in the modern Russia. I must be honest and report that I found the first third of the book quite repetitive, but the product as a whole is a valuable guide on Putin and his cronies. He has ruined his country and seems to have persuaded the people that he is looking after them. He's not! It will take generations for the country to recover.

[SheMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh ... Some of the stories are interesting especially the chapter about interference in American presidential politics, but the writing is not engaging with too much passive voice and confusing references e.g. one to Nelson Rockefeller as the "former vice-president" serving in the Eisenhower White House.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical overview of Russian (and particularly KGB) espionage of the 20th century. Providing key examples of notable surveillance and intelligence techniques to highlight the distinct Russian style this is background reading to better understand Putin and the FSB in the current context. Though, as the author notes, the Cheka seem more influential upon the FSB and GRU than the KGB.

[John C. Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Active disinformation programs in our midst..

The first half of the book provides detailed references to Russian KGB activities in the early Cold War. The second half shows what those goals and objectives are in more recent times and the means used to pursue them.

[Marja-Leena Tuomola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mielenkiintoisia venäläisten vakoojien vakoojatarinoita Lontoosta. Vaaleihin vaikuttaminen on ollut jo vuosikymmeniä tärkeä osa naapurimme keinovalikoimaa, tämä ei siis ole uusi asia. Kirja olisi hyötynyt merkittävästi kustannustoimittajan käsittelystä ja tiivistämisestä .

[Luis Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito bom para tentar imaginar todos os jogos que se passam por detrás da cortina.
A certa altura fala-se da desinformação da desinformação 😯 um conceito surreal que diz muito do nível do que se deve passar no mundo da espionagem.

[Michel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interessant boek, wordt naar het einde toe wel minder interessant maar geeft goed inzicht

[Karen Rutledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the writing leads a lot to be desired..the content is worth picking up this book. This book went a lot deeper into the history of the KGB's desire to disrupt America.

[Tytti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helmet 2024: 19. Suomi mainittu (Kirjassa on mainittu Suomi)

[Rio Zeko · Rating 4 out of 5]

very engaging and entertaining. wish that it had more content about the current day.

[Juissi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Sinänsä tosi informatiivinen mutta itselle ehkä turhan detaljeihin menevä.

[Tomasz · Rating 1 out of 5]

A weak compilation by an ignorant and borderline illiterate hack, largely not on topic, with a desperate couple of pages tacked on to make it currently relevant. For the todger-brained, I guess.
The single upside - it's pretty short, not many trees needed to be felled for this one.