Argumentation Process Research Articles

Exploring students' computer‐supported collaborative argumentation with socio‐scientific issues

AbstractBackgroundThis study examined the effect of computer‐supported collaborative argumentation (CSCA) on secondary school students' understanding of socio‐scientific issues (SSI). Engaging students in collaborative argumentation is known to help with deepening their understanding of SSI.MethodsIn this study, a mixed‐method design is used to investigate 84 students' collaborative argumentation processes and outcomes. The statistical analysis, epistemic network analysis and qualitative uptake analysis results showed that CSCA was effective in supporting secondary school students' evidence‐based argumentation skills on SSI.Findings and ConclusionSeveral cases were presented to show how students engaged in CSCA to explore meaningful learning opportunities and how CSCA helped students' learning on SSI.ImplicationsThe findings provided insights for future innovative teaching and learning SSI in authentic classroom settings.

Spatial patterns of electoral support in the 2023 general election in Poland

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This article focuses on identifying the spatial patterns of electoral support for the main political actors, and searching for adequate determinants that explain this distribution of support, based on the results of the 2023 general election in Poland. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: Is there a relationship between the basic morphological features of the voting space in Poland and the hierarchy of the settlement structure, along with the arrangement of regions associated with the country’s historical and political heritage? The methods used in the study include analysis of descriptive statistics, estimation of spatial autocorrelation, discriminant analysis, and cartographic methods. PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The research process involves a two-stage procedure: 1) identifying a general picture of spatial variation in electoral support for selected groupings, and basic clustering patterns of electoral support; and 2) estimating links between the observed patterns of support and their presumed determinants; that is, the country’s settlement hierarchy and historical-political divisions. RESEARCH RESULTS: The spatial variability of the support indicators is characterised by a distinctive territorial distribution, based on the units of the settlement system and the boundaries of former historical divisions. The nature of this linkage indicates the changing layout of the voting space, associated with the increasing polarisation of citizens’ political preferences. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The current pattern of urban-rural differentiation is related to the different preferences of metropolitan (over 20,000 inhabitants) and rural or small-town (up to 20,000 inhabitants) communities. The east-west heterogeneity of Poland’s voting space is increasing due to similarities of preferences among the inhabitants of former Austrian and Russian Poland, on the one hand, and Prussian Poland and the Recovered Territories, on the other.

War mediated by satellites. US drone warfare and its socio-political consequences

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the mediation phenomenon in US drone warfare and its consequences for drone operators and for global politics. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The primary issue is how the physical separation from the battlefield affects soldiers controlling unmanned vehicles and how technological dominance associated with drones impacts international law and perception of the enemy. The paper analyzes a broad range of sources, including academic literature, NGO reports, journalistic investigations, military textbooks, and personal accounts from drone operators. The theoretical framework draws from Carl Schmitt’s books, “Nomos of the Earth” and “Theory of the Partisan”. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: In the first part, the study examines the mechanics of drone warfare and analyzes the personal experiences of drone operators. In the second part, the focus shifts to the realm of geopolitics, exploring the transformations it undergoes due to the impact of remote warfare. RESEARCH RESULTS: Workers in the unmanned warfare program exhibit symptoms similar to those experienced by soldiers on the battlefield. The precise and “humanitarian” elimination of enemies can be counterproductive, potentially leading to the dehumanization of the enemy and radicalization on both sides of the conflict. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The fact of separation from the battlefield does not necessarily guarantee safety, precision, or humanitarian outcomes. On the contrary, in some instances, it can lead to soldiers’ suffering, civilian casualties, and escalation of conflict intensity.

Artistic Education in Jerzy Vetulani’s Perspective: A Comparative Analysis With Irena Wojnar’s Polish Concept of Aesthetic Education

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This article aims to present the anthropological, aesthetic, and pedagogical foundations of Jerzy Vetulani’s postulate of artistic education and compare it with Irena Wojnar’s concept of aesthetic education. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research questions are: What are the anthropological, aesthetic, and pedagogical foundations of Vetulani’s postulate of artistic education? Is there a similarity between Vetulani’s postulate and Wojnar’s proposal of education through art? To achieve these objectives, the content analysis method based on Karolina Szczepaniak’s model was used. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: Starting with Vetulani’s neurobiological views, the article first presents art as a defining characteristic of homo sapiens and a key activator of the human brain, especially its cognitive functions. It then discusses the pedagogical assumptions of Vetulani’s postulate. The comparison between Vetulani’s and Wojnar’s concepts is made by examining their anthropological assumptions and the role of art in human development. RESEARCH RESULTS: According to Vetulani, the relationship between humans and art is bio- logically determined, with art being essential for achieving full humanity. Both Vetulani and Wojnar view humans as inherently open to art, which plays a significant role in the upbringing process. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: Vetulani and Wojnar both emphasize the importance of art in human education. Brain imaging technology can enhance traditional aesthetic education. Activating the brain’s cognitive functions through art, particularly cognitive attention as highlighted by Vetulani, can be beneficial in treating common concentration disorders in children and adolescents.

Political image of Geert Wilders: Analysis of populist message on social media platform X

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim is to analyze Geert Wilders’ activity on platform X (formerly Twitter), with the research aiming to better understand the influence of social media on contemporary politics, the image of political leaders, and the dynamics of relations between politicians and society. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research problem is to understand how populist political leaders, such as Geert Wilders, utilize social media, particularly platform X, to shape their political image, promote their agenda, and build relationships with voters. The research method relies on discourse analysis of selected cases (e.g., controversial posts) to understand the rhetorical strategies used by Geert Wilders. This method enables a deep understanding of the use of emotional and provocative language for mobilizing supporters and building a political image. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The first step was an attempt to define the relationship between the development of digital communication tools and the rise of populism. Then, characteristic elements from Geert Wilders’ biography contributing to his public image as a politician were described. The final part concerns selected elements of political narrative published on platform X. RESEARCH RESULTS: The analysis of Geert Wilders’ statements on social media platform X reveals a coherent communication strategy aimed at building his image as a strong leader fighting for national interests and European values. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This analysis also underscores the significance of social media in today’s politics and the innovative potential in the realm of online political communication. It is recommended to implement media education to increase public awareness of politicians’ communication strategies and their impact on society.

Fr. Bolesław Żychliński’s (1857–1929) Guidelines for Family Religious Education

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an overview of Fr. Bolesław Żychliński’s pedagogical views on religious education within the family and to present the educational guide- lines he addressed to parents. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: What practical educational guidelines did Fr. Bolesław Żychliński offer for the religious upbringing of children, specifically addressing mothers and fathers? This article employs historical-pedagogical analysis of printed sources to explore these questions. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article begins by explaining the basic concepts related to the topic. It then provides comments on Fr. Żychliński’s biography, followed by a detailed presentation of his educational guidelines for mothers and his recommendations for the educational duties of fathers. RESEARCH RESULTS: Fr. Żychliński’s educational postulates regarding religious upbringing in the family fall within the domain of the pedagogy of religion. He advises parents to take educational measures aimed at fostering and solidifying faith in their children while encouraging good behavior. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: Fr. Żychliński’s educational postulates offer valuable guidelines for modern parents on the practice of religious education within the family.

On the Contribution of China's Market-oriented Reforms to Economic Growth

This paper will analyze the reasons and environment of China's market-oriented reform, and argue the fundamental motivation and necessity of China's market-oriented reform. After that, this paper will cite relevant data and researches to analyze the internal logic of socialist marketization, explain the operation mode of China's market-oriented reform, and prove the effect of market-oriented reform. Finally, according to the reform process, this paper will divide the socialist marketization reform into three parts for analysis: the initial grass-roots social market economy experiment, the subsequent gradual deepening of the marketization reform of township and village enterprises, and the comprehensive socialist marketization reform and comprehensive deepening. This paper will follow the above steps to argue the reasons for the success of China's socialist market economy reform. Combined with the above argumentation process, this paper will come to the view that China's market-oriented reform has made an important contribution to China's economy.

Collective argumentation in elementary school: an experience of reasoning with data in an online open class

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the statistical arguments produced by third-grade students (8–9 years old) and to identify the teaching support for collective argumentation in a lesson based on data comparison. A Lesson Study Group researched and planned the lesson around a problem from the official mathematics textbook.Design/methodology/approachFrom an interpretative perspective, we have analysed the arguments produced by students in a situation where they should give reasons to support or refute some claims based on data analysis. We looked at how some teaching support strategies promoted collective argumentation.FindingsThe strategies outlined in the lesson plan enabled the teacher to foster collective argumentation, encouraging students to provide reasoning based on data analysis. The lesson plan served as a means of improving the context presented in the textbook, guiding the development of well-structured teaching, and promoting high-quality teaching practices.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the limitations, and future lines of research by the LSG is the deepening of teachers' understanding of the support required for CA in their classrooms so that they can distinguish the components of an argument and their role in and interpretation of the effectiveness of the arguments. In addition, the lesson plan did not consider in depth aspects such as the argumentative processes of the students, nor did it implement specific actions to promote argumentation. Addressing these limitations would be interesting and is necessary, considering that teachers still do not understand the key role of argumentation in learning and that the mastery of CA strategies is still a challenge for initial teacher training and for professional development programs for teachers.Practical implicationsFor research purposes, evidence is presented of the types of teacher support in collective argumentation in a comparative task of two dot plots. For teaching purposes, these types of support can be pointed out within Lesson Study Groups and included in lesson plans, allowing discussions and base-data argumentation.Social implicationsThe research has social implications in civic development, educational inclusion, and adaptation to technological and pandemic changes, with a focus on inferential statistical reasoning and the crucial role of the teacher in facilitating collective argumentation in the online school classroom.Originality/valueThe study enriches knowledge about the potential of Lesson Study and the possibilities of planned online lessons to develop professional learning on collective argumentation with data, as exemplary teaching practices that should be widely shared.

Depopulation as a Long-term Policy Problem: From Dilemmas to Strategies

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The scientific objective of this article is to analyse strategies for urban decision-makers to address the dilemmas of depopulation. The theoretical framework for the article is the typology of long-term policy problem-solving dilemmas by Pot et al. (2022). THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The authors answer the question of how public administration officials are responding to the challenge of regional depopulation, what dilemmas they face in the process, and whether patterns can be detected in their preferred solutions. To answer these questions, the authors rely on qualitative research findings ‒ in-depth interviews (IDI) performed with mayors of Polish cities liable to depopulation and their direct subordinates. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: How policymakers navigate specific long-term challenges is contingent upon, inter alia, their resolution of the ensuing pivotal dilemmas. RESEARCH RESULTS: The strategies followed by municipalities are strongly affected by contextual factors inclusive of the monetary scenario, the character of the metropolis and its hyperlinks with other city centres, the connection with the government, or even the management style represented by means of the mayor. An aggregate of 3 styles seems to predominate, i.e. making an investment in targets, the responsive, and the reactive ones. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Two challenges, which we call meta-dilemmas, are particularly relevant for local government in Poland: the meta-dilemma of defining the functions of local government and the dilemma of agency. Resolving them determines the decision of policy when dealing with strategic dilemmas.

Media Coverage of Mediation: Before and During the Russian–Ukrainian War

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This study’s objective is to examine how mediation is presented in the news media stories before and during the outbreak of war. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research problem is an attempt to answer the question if in stories, whereas their headlines introduce the word “mediation” or “mediator,” respond to the concepts of mediation, peace, or war journalism. This documentary research analyzes 100 news published in Spanish, where we examine how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is presented to the readers. In addition, three experts in culture of peace (from Spain, Mexico, and Colombia) were interviewed regarding the media portrayals of war and mediation. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: This investigation begins with a recapitulation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine; before and after the outbreak of the war, different personalities offered intervention as a possible mediation. Despite the intentions to mediate, the war broke out, and the international community continued to search for a mediator. Thus, the influence of the media using specific words like “mediation” deserves to be explored. RESEARCH RESULTS: The study’s findings reveal that 85% of the analyzed media used a vocabulary whose style responds to war journalism and contradicts the idea of mediation in the bodies of the news stories. As a result, four categories emerge: self-proposed mediators, requested/expected mediators, mediating countries, and mediation experts. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This research demonstrates that the sense of mediation in media does not provide clarity but rather confusion. Even if the intention of mediation is covered, mostly, it is accompanied by a binary perspective of the conflict, which is the opposite of what mediation implies. The findings indicate a need to create spaces for training on culture and peace-building in the newsrooms to improve journalistic practices about armed conflicts.

The role of inflation in shaping changes in the employment rate: evidence from EU

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The objective of the article is to empirically verify the fundamental relationship implied by the Phillips curve: the relationship between the dynamics of employment and inflation in selected European Union countries. THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND METHODS: The research problem is to find out what effect inflation has on the evolution of the employment rate. The study was based on the scoping method used in the literature review. The empirical analysis used the distance-weighted least squares method and neural network analysis. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The first part examines the literature on the relationship between inflation and the employment rate. This is followed by an analysis that identifies the role of inflation on the employment rate in selected European Union countries. RESEARCH RESULTS: Our research has shown that changes in inflation can contribute to explaining the formation of employment in examined European countries. At the same time, the analysis revealed that the impact of inflation on the employment rate is relatively low. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The implications of the Phillips curve with regard to the relationship between inflation and the labour market are present. However, the relationship itself described is relatively weak with regard to other factors. The labour market in the European Union is multi-dimensional and is shaped by a number of factors.

The Russian Strategy of Concept Substitution in Facebook and Telegram economic content. Example of the Russian–Ukrainian War in the Period 2014–2023

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To analyze manipulative pro-Russian materials on social networks during the war that apply the “replacement of concepts” method. THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND METHODS: The main tasks are the timely detection and counteraction of Russian propaganda, which uses disinformation technologies in the information war against Ukraine; the use of visualization to disprove falsehoods, and determination of the use of the “replacement of concepts” method on social networks. The research methodology used on the Russian tactics of concept substitution on social platforms can be characterized as a synthesis of techniques that should be justified by the interchangeability of traditional objects of media research: author (initiator) – message – intermediary (mediator) – receiver. This research aims to synthesize and combine monitoring methods, content analysis, and comparative analysis. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: Several publications were selected. Some contained inaccurate information, while others contained accurate, factual information. As a result of comparing these materials, disinformation was refuted, and the importance of timely detection of the “concept substitution” technique used by pro-Russian channels in the Ukrainian information space was described. RESEARCH RESULTS: The study showed that Russian propaganda often uses concept substitution on Facebook and Telegram. This made it possible to explain how the most common tactics, technologies, and tools of concept substitution work and to fight against their spread. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: In Russia’s war against Ukraine, Kremlin propaganda tries to alter linguistic reality by “suppressing” certain words. Words emphasizing the fact of war and its negative consequences have been banned in Russian media and social networks.

School‑Friendly Parents? Characteristics of Parents’ Involvement in Vocational Schools in Hungary

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Our goal is to examine parental involvement in schools with higher dropout rates, lower dropout rates and disadvantaged family backgrounds. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: In our study, we focus on vocational schools that do not offer a baccalaureate (matura) degree as well as vocational schools that do offer a baccalaureate (matura) degree. In the present study, we used data from a large sample database in Hungary. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: . A number of international studies have examined the importance of parental involvement, especially for pre‑school children and primary school students. Few studies have focussed on parental involvement in secondary education, especially in Hungary where it has only recently become a focus of educational research, but the relationship between secondary education and parental involvement has only been partially investigated. RESEARCH RESULTS: Our results show that we need to pay more attention to these two types of schools. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: Based on our questions on parents’ involvement in school, we obtained several significant results. Of the barriers we investigated, we found one to be relevant. Our study is exploratory in nature and aims to gather data and information on parents of VET students. Our objective was to obtain results relevant to VET.

The Shepherd-King Metaphor in the Light of Interdisciplinary Research

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to analyze the sources of the shepherd-king metaphor, mainly from the perspective of social-political ideas, within a broad cultural and intellectual context. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The article focuses on identifying the intellectual sources of the shepherd-king metaphor in antiquity, their anthropological and cosmological context, and the metaphor’s fundamental message. Particular emphasis is placed on the socio-political aspect; thus, analyses of strictly theological significance are left aside. To achieve the research objective, the author makes use of interdisciplinary instruments, referring to archaeological, biological, and historical knowledge and especially to analyses from the field of the history of ideas. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The article’s line of argument reflects the fundamental problems that need to be solved in order to determine the essence and shape of the shepherd-king metaphor. Therefore, the issues analyzed include animal domestication; ancient anthropology understood as the divine domestication of humans; and the distinctions drawn in ancient thought between the essence of the nature of animals, humans, rulers, and gods. RESEARCH RESULTS: As a result of the analyses indicated above, it was possible to capture the main components of the shepherd-king metaphor, their structure and essence, as well as their direct reference to, and significance for both anthropology and socio-political thought. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The article highlights the importance of the shepherd-king metaphor to the history of political ideas, outlining the impact of both its explicit theses and its more implicit, but no less important, elements. Attention was also drawn to the need for further research, which would enable the metaphor’s socio-political aspects analyzed in this article to be combined into one coherent interpretation with the religious and theological aspects.

From Seeing to Understanding: The Conceptual Metaphor UNDERSTANDING IS LIGHT in Julian of Norwich’s “Revelations of Divine Love”

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The article discusses the interplay between language, cognition and culture from a cognitive diachronic perspective, focusing on the relation between religion and metaphorical thought. It investigates the role of the conceptual metaphor UNDERSTANDING IS LIGHT in religious discourse, using the example of The Revelations of Divine Love, written by Julian of Norwich, a late medieval anchoress. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METODS: The paper draws on the Extended Conceptual Metaphor approach, Zoltán Kövecses’s elaboration of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT). The universalist bias of CMT means that the theory tends to ignore the sociocultural context of historical data, prioritising the influence of universal human embodiment on metaphorical thought. Using Kövecses’s approach, the paper shows how the gap in CMT methodology may be bridged to yield more reliable results. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The present study connects Kövecses’s approach to Cognitive Linguistic research into sociocultural situatedness. To exemplify the problem, the analysis examines the cognitive‑cultural underpinnings of Julian’s use of the metaphor UNDERSTAND‑ ING IS LIGHT. RESEARCH RESULTS: The analysis shows that the metaphorical conceptualisation pattern may well derive from Julian’s sociocultural situatedness. The paper indicates that the anchoress’s metaphorical thought should be seen as embedded in the late medieval sociocultural context, rather than being considered solely in terms of universal aspects of embodiment. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE APPLICATIVE VALUE OF RESEARCH: The study concludes that the idea of sociocultural situatedness may be pivotal in the analyses of historical texts. It seems important to incorporate this idea into Kövecses’s approach, which may inform the methodology of cognitive diachronic research into metaphorical conceptualisations. Furthermore, the results may be applied to teaching students how to approach historical texts, helping them gain a better understanding of the relation between metaphorical thought and culture.

Can High Involvement of Roma Parents Combat the Impact of Poverty? Resilience and Parental Involvement in the Success of Roma Students at School from the Students’ Perspective

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: A recurring question in Romani studies is why it is difficult to achieve breakthrough successes in inclusion programs. These programs focus mainly on school subjects, although the role of parents is crucial to solving the problem. This study, therefore, concerns parents and their roles in school success. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The purpose of this study is 1) to reveal how Roma and non‑Roma pupils perceive their parents’ involvement (PI) and 2) to come closer to explaining how PI affects students’ school success under the control of other variables. The analysis sheds light on the views of children of Roma and non‑Roma parents in Hungary. Cross‑tabulation analysis and linear regression analysis were applied. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The database called Discovery of Hidden Value of Mentoring (DHVM) was analysed, which includes data from 13–14‑year‑old students (N = 206; 31.1% Roma, 68.9% non‑Roma). RESEARCH RESULTS: For all school‑based and home‑based PI indicators apart from one (parent–teacher conferences), Roma and non‑Roma parents showed the same results. A student’s disadvantaged financial situation most strongly determined their level of school success, overriding the compensatory effect of PI. The variance explained by the regression model was 30.4%, and the model was significant (F(7) 5.18, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: Although financial disadvantage overrides the compensatory effect of PI on school careers and political entities need much action to improve people’s financial situation, schools and families cannot look only to the outside for solutions. The most significant finding of the research is that there is a hidden resource to improve the school success of Roma pupils, namely PI. Based on the results, the schools are recommended to conduct the partner cooperation with parents, because together they can increase the children’s future opportunities and resilience.

The Family as a Place of Experiencing Critical Events – Case Study

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The main aim is to show the narrative of a woman who experienced critical events in her personal life. THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND METHODS: 1. How does the narrator describe critical events based on her family experience? 2. What meaning does she ascribe to the events experienced in retrospect? The presented research is situated in the interpretative research tradition. A descriptive‑theoretical type of case study was used. Empirical data was collected using Fritz Schütze’s narrative interview technique. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The interview began by presenting the narrator’s life story from her childhood to the present day. Attention was paid to her understanding of herself and her life, her relationship with her parents, and critical events that occurred in her family. The empirical material was then interpreted based on Schütze’s process structures, which revealed her current life course, critical events in the family and landmark events in the narrator’s individual biography. RESEARCH RESULTS: The interpretation of the empirical material showed the narrator in the process of change, internal metamorphoses. It revealed poor intra‑family relations, which became the cause of illness, lack of self‑acceptance, and depressive and anxious states. The therapy that she underwent, satisfying professional work and mutual feelings of love allowed the narrator to overcome her limitations, weaknesses and take a critical look at the family relationships that were the cause of her pain and suffering. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: The narrative presented in the paper can become a stimulus for change in people who are currently struggling with family problems, illness or suffering: all those people who experience anxiety and loneliness in the space of family life.

Media representations of nuclear threats during the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Research objective: This article continues the scholarly tradition of uncovering the rhetorical practices that influence audiences’ perceptions, beliefs, and behaviours towards nuclear actors and issues and examines how the Romanian mass media reports on nuclear threats against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: This article conducts a detailed examination of how media coverage of nuclear-related topics influences public perceptions, generating a feeling of urgency and potentially leading to mass panic and hysteria. The study employed a quantitative methodology, conducting content analysis on a selection of 190 online news articles from the primary Romanian press agencies (Mediafax and Agerpress) published between February 24, 2022, and February 24, 2023. Employing an inductive approach, our analysis was guided by frames identified during the examination of the sample material. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: Nuclear threats and other related issues were frequently reported in the media in the post-World War 2 period. Given the history of media coverage of this topic, it is perhaps not surprising that a return to reporting nuclear threats has dominated the media discourse since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. RESEARCH RESULTS: The results of our study reveal two main frames used to report issues related to nuclear threats during the war in Ukraine: a historical reference frame and a forward-looking frame. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This study introduces a fresh research direction for potential investigations into the origins and progression of nuclear threats as a unique area of focus in the analysis of Eastern European media reporting during times of conflict.

Mediatization of war. The state of the research field in the period 2018-2022

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The mediatization of war represents one of many fields of mediatization research. In the face of numerous military crises and the dynamic development of media and digital technologies, the mediatization of armed conflicts is a key research area. At the same time, the relationship between media and war has been described as highly under-researched and in need of considerable investment in terms of concept development and empirical research. Also, the mediatization of war as a field of study is sometimes criticized. The aim of this research is to determine the state of the mediatization of war studies in the last five years. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The questions guiding the research were: 1) What is being specifically researched in the field?; 2) What are the main research questions and objectives of this research? A meta-analysis of publications from 2018–2022 available on Google Scholar was performed. ­Using strict selection criteria, 90 peer-reviewed publications from this period were extracted, coded and analyzed. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The geographical coverage of the examined issues and the places of research were defined. The specifics of research on the mediatization of war and methods used in this research field were determined. RESEARCH RESULTS: The results indicate that indexed contemporary studies that deal with the mediatization of war are highly interdisciplinary. At the same time, they are focused on specific parts of the world, on a peculiar catalog of problems, and they are dominated by qualitative methodology. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: War is an area in which key sub-processes are diagnosed, both those comprising mediatization in the broadest sense (included processes) and those generated by mediatization (induced processes). These sub-processes determine the extent and transformative power of the mediatization taking place.

Mediatization and Mystique. Volodymyr Zelensky’s Self-Presentation on Instagram

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This study uses mediatization theory and Goffman’s concept of self-presentation to explain the inseparable role of social media in the rise of Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukrainian politics and, since the Russian invasion, world consciousness. From the start, his political persona has been governed far more by media logic than political calculation, although the former has translated into the latter. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The analysis explores how Zelensky develops an iconic communication style through visual framing and other mediation techniques. Towards this end, we conduct a visual content analysis of images posted to his official Instagram account across three points in time: his candidacy, presidency before the invasion, and first year of the invasion. 100 images are sampled from each time period and subjected to detailed visual and nonverbal analysis. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: Employing framing theory and Goffman’s notion of self-presentation, the study explains the Ukrainian leader’s skillful use of visual and nonverbal messaging to project an image of an everyman president and, beginning with the February 2022 invasion, emergent soldier-in-chief. The analysis also shows how specific visual appeals (e.g., facial expressions, Ukrainian symbols) and background settings influence Zelensky’s presentation over time. RESEARCH RESULTS: Results show how the inclusion of more political, and then diplomatic and military, elites in posts during his presidency and year one of the invasion positions Zelensky as a recognized leader while solidifying his status as soldier-in-chief. Indeed, the ubiquity and universality of his soldier persona have become a widely recognized symbol of the fight for democratic freedom. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The study illustrates how Zelensky utilizes social media, Instagram in particular, as a platform for compelling self-presentation while communicating a message of national unity and resolve. His ubiquitous media presence has introduced a new perspective on leadership during wartime.