Launch of CRYSTAL, the platform for analyzing digital crises, strategies, and power struggles
24 juin 2026
After several years of development, the GEODE researchers are thrilled to announce the public launch of the CRYSTAL platform.
CRYSTAL is a geopolitical information system developed within the GEODE centre (Institut Français de Géopolitique, Université Paris 8). The platform offers an easily accessible digital support for analysing crises, strategies, and power rivalries through their digital dimension. With CRYSTAL, we aim to bring together a research community around the analysis of large datasets to understand contemporary conflicts in their territorial dimension. The platform is intended primarily for researchers — whether or not they are familiar with digital methods — as well as students. It is already widely used in the training of Master’s students at the Institut Français de Géopolitique.
CRYSTAL is designed to be a space for experimenting with new forms of field exploration in the humanities and social sciences through their digital dimension. Three major dimensions are explored by the platform:
- Exploration of non-Western digital worlds
Many segments of the web (Russian-, Persian-, Chinese-, or Korean-language) use specific platforms and require in-depth knowledge of the digital landscape. CRYSTAL enables the exploration of these portions of cyberspace through dedicated tools. - Analysis of narratives and influence strategies
Cyberspace is the stage for the massive dissemination of complex and contradictory strategic narratives. CRYSTAL develops and hosts solutions to collect, visualise, and analyse them. - Mapping cyberspace infrastructures
Behind its apparent immateriality, cyberspace relies on infrastructures that are fully embedded in geographical space. From the global routing of data via the BGP protocol to traceroute measurements, CRYSTAL enables the mapping of the protocolar and infrastructural layers of cyberspace.
Launch of the TETRIS seminar: exploring narratives and influence strategies in the digital age
The launch of the platform is accompanied by the launch of a seminar: TETRIS (Terrains, Enquêtes et Techniques numériques pour l’étude des Récits et des Stratégies d’influence — Digital Fieldworks, Inquiries and Techniques for the Study of Narratives and Influence Strategies). TETRIS is a research and training seminar dedicated to methods for analysing civilisational and strategic narratives, from their production to their reception, including their transnational circulation, notably via cyberspace infrastructures. It aims to develop “digital fieldworks”, the CRYSTAL platform, and to transmit these methods beyond academic circles. Funded by INALCO’s DECRIPT programme and co-organised by GEODE, the seminar will begin in July 2026.
Practical information
📅 First session: 6 July 2026
🕟 Time: 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Venue: INALCO – Grands Moulins campus
🏛️ Organisation: GEODE and the DECRIPT programme (INALCO)
Join the adventure!
The seminar is open to researchers, doctoral students, students, and professionals interested in the study of strategic narratives and influence dynamics.
We invite you to:
- submit your research projects;
- contribute to the development of digital fieldworks and the CRYSTAL platform;
- take part in the epistemological, methodological, and technical discussions that will shape this programme.
Save the date of 6 July 2026 for the inaugural session.