The EUI Ukraine Solidarity Initiative invites hosts its next event with academics and media practitioners involved on the ground for a discussion of what is at stake in setting a narrative of the war.
Abstract
Information is now a crucial aspect of war. In Russia, the government tries to silence critical voices of the invasion by introducing a new law imposing a prison term of up to 15 years for spreading ‘fake’ news about the military. Russian efforts to frame the narrative abroad as well as at home have led European governments to ban Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik. Looking at the Russian government’s communication strategies, this panel will analyse how the Kremlin frames the narrative for its domestic sphere and examine the consequences of the information blackout.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are stepping up efforts to win the information war. Whether through President Zelensky’s efficacious political communication, or ordinary Ukrainians’ inventive use of social media to document human rights violations, their narrative strategies have reached far beyond Ukraine’s borders. To what extent do these formal and informal narratives impact the mobilization effort inside Ukraine? And how do they affect the way Western media cover the conflict?
We invite you to join with academics and media practitioners involved on the ground for a discussion of what is at stake in setting a narrative of the war.
All interested fellows, PhD researchers, professors and visiting academics are invited to participate. The event is open to the general public.