The Symbolic Politics of Terminology for Russia's War on Ukraine with Lisa Chernenko and Mykyta Petik Some Ukrainians have no concern over what people call Russia's War on Ukraine - they are living in it. But some do, and the choice of terminology can have political, legal, and moral implications. So it is essential to … Continue reading Calling a War a War
Ukraine
Hurrah! Bringing Hope Back to Ukraine
The psychology of warfare is often overlooked when focusing on the hard realities of physical, active, kinetic military actions. Ed Baker (2024) wrote about the British cheer (huzza, hooray, hussaw, huzzay, or hurrah) being so important to the morale of British troops. It is in that spirit that Congressional passage of funds for Ukraine can … Continue reading Hurrah! Bringing Hope Back to Ukraine
Are YOU the Problem? Holding Up a Mirror to our Political System
The esteemed American scholar of politics and international relations, Francis Fukuyama, wrote an engaging opinion piece in The Financial Times (2/3 March 2024: 11), entitled ‘We can still reverse America’s political decay’. He begins with a litany of issues tied to the widespread perception that liberal democracies, like the US, are declining. In fact, he … Continue reading Are YOU the Problem? Holding Up a Mirror to our Political System
Information is Powerful: Research on Ukraine
On the second anniversary of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I want to acknowledge and thank the growing number of researchers who are exploring the incredibly wide range of issues tied to the war in Ukraine. Many academics at all levels of academia are contributing their skills and training to Ukraine in one of … Continue reading Information is Powerful: Research on Ukraine
Information, Communication, and Innovation Aspects of the War on Ukraine: A Meeting of Early Career Researchers
The Portulans Institute supported the conduct of an Oxford Forum on ‘The Implications of the Russian War in Ukraine for Global Information, Communication, and Cybersecurity’, which was held on 26 January 2024 in a Board Room of the Oxford Internet Institute (OII). It was conceived, organized, and chaired by an OII DPhil Candidate, Elizaveta (Lisa) … Continue reading Information, Communication, and Innovation Aspects of the War on Ukraine: A Meeting of Early Career Researchers
Why Swallow Propaganda: You Believe What You Want to Believe
The Ukraine-Russia War has seen the return of premodern propaganda with Putin’s ‘special military operation’ narrative behind his nation’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Whether or not Russians buy this line, he can enforce adherence to his narrative in Russia and it has been embraced by autocrats across the world, even in Hungary and Turkey. … Continue reading Why Swallow Propaganda: You Believe What You Want to Believe
Airtime Given Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War
You may have noticed that, since the tragedy of 7 October in Israel and its aftermath in Gaza, the Russo-Ukraine War has almost disappeared from the news agenda.[i] It is hardly mentioned on the 24-hour news channels and relegated to the back pages of major newspapers. In this and other ways, the Israel-Hamas War has … Continue reading Airtime Given Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War
Change and Continuity in War Propaganda
William H. Dutton The Russo-Ukrainian War has reinvented trench warfare, but also many aspects of war propaganda.[i] Fear over the power of propaganda in the world wars heightened work on media and communication research. In several respects, war propaganda from the Russo-Ukraine War might again revise and revive old research agendas – a case of … Continue reading Change and Continuity in War Propaganda
The Symbolic Politics of Labelling Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
What should we call the Russian invasion of Ukraine?