1. CASSANDRA HOBEN, JAMES SPEARMAN, MARC UNGER SCAD 2018
Marketing Terrorism: Aum Shinrikyo’s Cult Following in Post-Soviet Russia
CASSANDRA HOBEN, JAMES SPEARMAN, MARC UNGER
SCAD 2018

2. Presentation Outline Introduction to Aum Shinrikyo
April 3rd, 1995
Introduction to Aum Shinrikyo
Yoga Class to Chemical Gas,
Chronology of Activity in Japan
Background on Master Shoko Asahara
Aum Shinrikyo in Post-Soviet Russia
The Russian Connection,
Entering the Russian Federation
Methods of Recruitment
Russian Perspectives on the Aum
Their relationship with the Kremlin
The Russian Orthodox Church and Parent Groups

3. Questions to keep in mind:
What factors helped Aum Shinrikyo successfully operate in Japan and Russia?
How was their Russian membership higher than Japanese membership? (30,000:10,000)
What methods were used to recruit young Russian citizens?

4. Aum Shinrikyo: An Introduction
Translates to “Aum Supreme Truth”
Started in 1984 as a Yoga Class
Lead by Master Shoko Asahara
Apocalypse Cult mixed with Hinduism and Buddhism

5. Yoga Class to Chemical Gas: Timeline of Activity in Japan
1984: Created by Shoko Asahara as small Yoga/Meditation Class
1987: Officially called Aum Shinrikyo
1989: Became an official Religious Corporation in Japan
1995: Tokyo Subway Attack carried out with Chemical Weapons

6. Master Shoko Asahara Mastermind behind his program: “supreme truth”
Businessman
“Tokyo’s Christ” and “Holy Pope”
Considered a guru and a god to his followers

7. Supreme Truth speaks to Russia
Aum Shinrikyo entered Russia in 1992
Shoko Asahara had relationships with the Kremlin and Duma
Popularity was so high, Aum was given several outlets
Radio Airtime
Television Program

8. Methods of Recruitment
Three major tools for expanding their membership:
Media Outreach through Radio and Television
Asahara’s Political Connections
College Campus Recruitment

9. Radio and Television Radio broadcast Television
Particularly appealing to students
Functioned as word of mouth on a larger scale
Was able to reach people who may not have listened otherwise
Television
Put a face to the group
Showed the humanity of the organization

10. Asahara and the Kremlin
Allowed to exist
People had thought to group was outlawed but in reality was not
A recovering Russia
Citizens and the government alike were recovering after the fall of the Soviet Union
People were vulnerable to new ideas that sound appealing
Citizens now had the freedom to think independently
Proximity to the Kremlin gave the organization more
legitimacy

11. Campus Recruitment Young people “Aum Protect” Always crave new ideas
Tradition is not as important
Spread ideas amongst themselves rapidly
New and vibrant demographic
“Aum Protect”

12. How did Russians feel about this?
Potential followers loved the organization
The Kremlin saw them as an outlet for Russian spiritual practice
The Russian Orthodox Church lobbied against their presence
Parent Organizations sued the sect with the Orthodox Church

13. The Russian Orthodox Church and Parent Groups
Sued Aum Shinrikyo for harming the spiritual health of Russians
Accused Aum of brainwashing practices
Lawsuit from
“Committee for the Defense of Freedom”

14. Downfall in Russia Post 1995 Attack
After the Tokyo bombing, Russia cracked down
Moscow offices raided
Lawsuit ended in favor of Orthodoxy, banning Aum’s practices
The sect’s efforts went dark until 00’s underground comeback
Completely eradicated in 2016

15. Conclusion Pre-attack Russian membership: approx. 30,000
Recruitment Square: Media, Kremlin, Campuses, Company
Religious boom post-Soviet Union gave Aum advantage
Russian Orthodox Church pushed back with success
Implications of Aum’s Russian Success?

16. Image Credits by Slide:
1: Wikipedia
2: Time Magazine
3: Beachcombing’s Bizarre History Blog
4: Senpai Coast to Coast
5: Gaijinass
6: Real Life Villains Wiki
7: bizarrepedia.com
8: Informer
9: Youtube [clenty yt]
10: Imgur
11: Wikipedia
12: History.com
13: Britannica
14: Japan Times
15: IB Times UK, Sangha Kommune

17. Thank you! Q and A