Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2008. / Thesis Advisor(s): O'Connell, Robert. "December 2008." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 30, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-170). Also available in print.

No

On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, framed as a limited “special military operation”, rather than the largest invasion in Europe since World War II. Although Ukraine put up fierce resistance, the Kremlin doubled down on their “special military operation”, using the Russian information space to insulate their population from the realities of the catastrophic invasion. However, as the months passed, Ukrainian capabilities grew, and a new threat to the carefully cultivated image of the invasion as limited emerged: strikes on military bases on territory that had been held by Russia before February 24. This study looks at the Russian media space’s reaction to four drone attacks on Russian held territory through mainstream media. The study uses the method “Naming, Blaming, Claiming” with the aim of showing how Russian media identified the problem (naming), who was responsible (blaming), and what was done to mitigate the issue (claiming). It will be shown that the blame for these attacks shifted with time, from Ukraine to the West. Additionally, it provides insight into how the Russian information space, specifically news media, behaves during such events.

The need for reliable financial information has led to the establishment of audits as a vital component of corporate governance. Audits serve to enhance the credibility of financial statements, mitigate agency conflicts, and instill trust among stakeholders. In an evolving business landscape, external factors such as covid, war, and climate change have emerged, potentially impacting the determinants of audit fees. Purpose: The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the influence of external risk factors such as the covid pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change on audit fees. Theoretical perspectives: Theoretical concepts base on previous research and publications on determinants of audit fees, audit risk, the covid pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change. Literature was used to derive the research gap and research questions. Methodology: A qualitative method base exploratory approach. A literature review was conducted to uncover areas of interest that require more research. The influence of external risk on the audit fees was identified as a potential area for research; a focus on the covid pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with auditors from big four audit firms in Sweden. Empirical foundation: Six auditors from various professional levels participated in the interview process to obtain empirical data. Conclusions: The findings of the study show that covid, Russia-Ukraine war, and climate change have significant implications on audit fees. These external factors contribute to increased complexity and risk in the audit process, necessitating additional resources and effort leading to increase in audit fees. Recognizing the influence of COVID-19, war, and climate change on audit fees is crucial for auditors, audit clients, policymakers, and regulators. This awareness can inform decision-making processes, financial planning, risk assessments, and the development of appropriate regulatory frameworks, ultimately promoting transparency and strengthening the overall integrity of the audit process. The findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge and serve as a foundation for further exploration and understanding of the complex relationship between these external factors and audit fees.

In the constantly evolving media environment, understanding how social media is used to influence people’s perceptions is becoming increasingly important. This thesis focuses on the ways social media is used to frame conflicts. More specifically, the thesis aims to understand how the official account of Ukraine is framing the Russia-Ukraine war on TikTok. The study acknowledges the lack of research into the ways social media is used to frame conflict and attempts to start filling this research gap. The study was conducted as a qualitative content analysis, using 150 TikTok videos posted between April 2022 and 2023 as its data. Robert Entman’s (1993) conceptualization of framing was used as the analytical framework of the study. The thesis concludes that @ukraine.ua focuses on the implications war has had on the lives of Ukrainians and the destruction it has caused. It also almost explicitly identifies Russia’s acts as the cause of problems and while Ukraine is presented as the protector and fierce fighter of freedom, Russia is referred to as a terroristic and evil entity. @ukraine.ua suggests Ukraine’s victory in the war as a solution to problems, while also amplifying the necessity of military and economic aid.

This study seeks to investigate, from both macro and micro perspectives, the effect of brand activism on consumer loyalty.  The macro perspective examines the general relationship between brand activism and consumer loyalty, whereas the micro perspective examines the specific context of companies' withdrawal from Russia as a form of brand activism.  The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of how the consumer receives information about brand activism. The macro-level literature review investigates the definition and evolution of brand activism, the relationship between brand activism and consumer loyalty, and the communication strategies' effect on consumer loyalty. On a micro level, the study concentrates on the decisions corporations made as part of their brand activism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict of 2022.  The purpose of this study is to thoroughly comprehend the intricate relationship between brand activism and consumer loyalty.  The methodology section describes the hypotheses model as well as the research strategy based on surveys and interviews.  This study's findings provide new insights into the influence of brand activism on consumer loyalty and its three components (cognitive, affective, and behavioral) as well as brand activism communication strategies on the macro level, and into the specific context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the micro level. It highlights that brand activism shapes consumer loyalty differently through the three components and according to the context. Additionally, social media is the communication channel that influences the most the relationship between brand activism and consumer loyalty on both macro and micro perspectives.  This study contributes to the disciplines of marketing and consumer behavior by advancing the relationship among brand activism, consumer loyalty, and communication.

Since the end of the Cold War, security and security threats have transcended beyond the traditional security aspects due to changed global interactions in the facets of economic, political, diplomatic and even domestic policies of individual states. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has not only heightened defence and security concerns in Europe and globally but has also revived the Cold War security tensions in some way necessitating an understanding of how contemporary security threats and crisis preparedness are perceived by civilians in this modern day and age.  Building from Ontological Security theory which holds that when an individual's sense of self and stability is challenged, they experience enormous anxiety, this study examines the attitudes and perceptions of the youths (many of whom were born and raised in the post-Cold War era) on security threats as well as their knowledge and trust in the government's civil defence and crisis preparedness in Växjö, Sweden. The study's analysis concludes that, despite being barely informed on civil defence crisis preparedness, Växjö's youths regard the ongoing war in Ukraine as less threatening to their ontological security but rather other human security issues due to factors like the war's narrative bearing little relevance, youth's media scepticism and refraining from negative news. Furthermore, the findings present a dramatic range of trust among the youths in the government's competence to handle emergencies, reflecting on crisis preparedness knowledge among the youths in Växjö.

Abstract This thesis investigates Romania’s response to the Russia-Ukraine war, focusing on the discourse surrounding sovereignty, the limitations of military power, and the potential for diplomatic alternatives. The study critically analyzes Romanian media coverage and political statements to explore how sovereignty is framed in the context of the conflict and examines the efficacy of military power versus non-military diplomatic strategies. Through a qualitative content analysis of selected Romanian news articles and official communications, the research identifies key themes and narratives that shape Romania’s stance on the conflict. The findings reveal a complex relationship between national security concerns, historical ties, and international diplomatic pressures. Moreover, the study highlights the constraints and costs associated with military power projection and underscores the importance of diplomatic avenues in mitigating conflict. By providing a comprehensive understanding of Romania’s position and proposing diplomatic strategies as viable alternatives to militarism, this thesis contributes to broader discussions on international relations and conflict resolution. The study also addresses methodological limitations, including potential biases in source selection and translation challenges.

Background: In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and put the world into a state of geopolitical crisis, leading to severe negative spillover effects on the global economy. Corporations were compelled to respond to the geopolitical crisis, while some were indirectly exposed to the war and others directly affected, all corporations had to decide on their strategic actions. Thus, questions arise how and why corporations acted as they did. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how corporations react to a geopolitical crisis, and further explain how they make their strategic decisions. The study adopts a contingency perspective to identify the fundamental basis upon which strategic decisions were made. Additionally, the study tests whether stakeholders’ influences can explain the corporations’ decisions. Method: This study employs a quantitative methodology with a deductive approach in an exploratory and positivistic paradigm. This is done to examine the relationship between corporations’ exposure to Russia, stakeholders’ influences, and strategic decisions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. Data were gathered from annual reports and various databases, and analyzed using Spearman correlation matrix and linear regression models. Conclusion: The findings show that corporations act differently depending on their contingencies in reaction to a geopolitical crisis. Furthermore, stakeholders influence the strategic decisions in corporations indirectly affected by the geopolitical crisis, however, their influence is diminished in corporations directly impacted. While some stakeholder influences were found on the strategic decisions made by the most severely impacted corporations, other factors seem to ultimately determine the strategic decisions in the directly impacted corporations.

No description available.