International Crisis Management Research Articles

War and Its Imagery: The Visual Narrative of the Ukrainian State’s Instagram Account Ukraine.Ua as a Tool of Digital Public Diplomacy

ABSTRACT This article presents an empirical analysis of the Instagram account Ukraine.ua, a key component in the Ukrainian government’s communication efforts following the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022. Operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in tandem with the NGO Brand Ukraine, this account has been instrumental in shaping Ukraine’s digital communication strategy. The research delves into both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the textual and visual content posted on this Instagram page, reconstructing the visual storytelling employed to influence perceptions of Ukraine, highlighting its distinctive features and their coherence with Ukraine’s strategic objectives. The results of the empirical analysis are interpreted through the lenses of Public and Digital Diplomacy, alongside the more specific concepts of Nation Branding, Selfie diplomacy and Reputational Security. The latter, Reputational Security, is pivotal to this analysis, emphasising the significance of a positive national image in managing crises effectively. The insights gleaned from this case study offer an important understanding of Public Diplomacy and its ramifications, especially underscoring the role of digital platforms in the realms of international relations and crisis management. The article concludes by reflecting on how this case study enriches our comprehension of Public Diplomacy and propounds new questions for future scholarly enquiry

CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION PERSPECTIVE: FROM DIALECTICAL EVOLUTIONS TO A DISTINCT APPROACH

The article presents some ideas and reasonings about the acquisition by the European Union of the role of recognized actor in the field of crisis management. The author elucidates a progress in the development of the political-legal and institutional framework for crisis management, adopting a comprehensive approach that combines diplomacy, prevention, and civil and military interventions. The research contains an analysis of the path towards the development of a distinct European Union approach to crisis management. The author identified the criticisms of the EU in this area and delineated the significant challenges facing the EU on various dimensions, including the diversity of member states' interests and limited resources in certain areas. The perspectives include the need for continued adaptability, strengthening of response capabilities, and a strong commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation. Through these combined efforts, the EU can strengthen its role as an effective global actor in international crisis management.

Кризис-менеджмент в российско-турецких отношениях (на примере сирийского кризиса 2010–2021 гг.)

Introduction. In recent years, issues related to the Syrian crisis, including the shooting down of a Turkish fighter jet by Syria on June 22, 2012, the forced landing of a Syrian passenger plane in Ankara on October 10, 2012, and the shooting down of a Russian Su-24 jet by Turkey on November 24, 2015, have become a serious challenge for Russia and Turkey. Moscow and Ankara took completely opposite positions and moved to direct confrontation, but gradually these two actors managed to avoid an escalation of tensions by synchronizing their positions. Methods and materials. The main research question is: how did Russia and Turkey deal with competition and tension in their relations, which pushed them to cooperate? In response to this hypothesis, it is assumed that along with all the constant and variable factors, including geopolitics, economic cooperation, and opposition to Western unilateralism, this cooperation between the two leaders, Putin and Erdogan, has led to a kind of crisis management and a reduction in tensions between the two countries. This has created a delicate balance of competition and cooperation between the two countries. As a theoretical approach, this study examines international crisis management and its applied interpretation in political research on conflict management (conflict situations) and the role of personality and the “rational actor” model in decision-making theory. The research method in this article is a case study; several crisis cases were analyzed, and the main influencing factors in controlling the relationship between the two countries were identified. Results. The main conclusion of the study is that in crisis management, the role of the individual in the image of an intelligent leader in the implementation of policies with full control over subordinate organizations played a significant role. Authors’ contribution. Mehdi Sanaei is responsible for the concept of the article, the development of its theoretical part, the identification and discussion of controversial issues about crisis and conflict management, and the assessment of information sources. Kamran Hooshyar studied the literature and expert opinions, tested the hypothesis about the large role of the heads of state of Russia and Turkey as political leaders in cooperation, and analyzed the economic and political aspects of cooperation between the two states.

Emotional Intelligence Multi-Lingual Voice Translator: Bridging Language and Emotional Barriers in Global Communication

This paper introduces the Emotional Intelligence Multi-Lingual Voice Translator (EIMVT), a novel system that addresses the challenges of preserving voice authenticity in cross-lingual communication. By integrating voice cloning, emotion identification, and language translation, EIMVT maintains the speaker’s voice characteristics and emotional nuances while bridging language barriers. We evaluate current translation systems’ limitations and propose an architecture incorporating state-of-the-art voice processing methods. The potential applications of EIMVT span international conferences, tourism, crisis management, and media, promising to enhance cross-cultural understanding and communication effectiveness.

Effective communication as a moderating factor in international business crisis management

This study investigated the moderation role of effective communication in handling crises in multinational businesses as an innovation tool. The study utilized a sample of 315 participants from different public limited companies in Greece. The results showed that proactive crisis communication approaches have a positive influence on crisis handling in multinational businesses. It was revealed that there is a significant relationship between reactive crisis communication techniques and crisis handling in multinational businesses. In order for innovation to be successful, the commercial benefits must be effectively communicated. However, the innovation process requires different strategies of communication to be effective. Businesses that are aware of the many elements of the innovation process may concentrate their communication efforts for the best results in organisational innovation. Concept development and mobilisation, idea screening and advocacy, and idea testing are all stages where effective communication is crucial. Organizations must take into account the different trends of innovation when addressing crises in multinational businesses. Communication in businesses ought to be based on new innovative ideas. Additionally, fostering a culture of openness and cooperation can help with communication at all stages of the innovation process.

The Taiwan Issue From the Perspective of International Crisis Management: History and Future

The Taiwan Issue From the Perspective of International Crisis Management: History and Future

National security in presidential time: The politics of the National Security Council

AbstractThe National Security Council (NSC) is the preeminent national security feature of the modern U.S. presidency. The NSC is the president's council, but presidents have varied dramatically in how frequently they have convened formal meetings of the NSC since the NSC system was created in 1947. Under what conditions are presidents likely to hold NSC meetings? I argue that presidents are pragmatic about when to engage personally in national security affairs and that presidents are incentivized to conduct NSC meetings more frequently early in a presidency. Using a novel data set of all NSC meetings from 1947 to 1993, I find that presidents are likely to hold NSC meetings most frequently in the first year of office and that NSC meeting frequency is likely to decline substantially over a president's first 3 years in office, even after controlling for important international security conditions and domestic political factors previously thought to influence presidential national security behavior. The results affirm prior scholars' description of the NSC as a presidential mechanism for international crisis management but also suggest that time in office is an important determinant of presidential national security behavior.

Tasks of the Finnish Defence Forces – where are You Going?

The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) are tasked with the military defence of Finland, supporting other public authorities, both providing international assistance and participating in international activities, and participation in international military crisis management. The Act on the Making of Decisions Concerning the Provision of and Request for International Assistance is essential for the execution of the third of these tasks. This Act has been amended following the lessons learned from the evacuation operation in Afghanistan – but is it still necessary to understand the FDF’s provision of international assistance and participation in joint operations and other international activities as an independent task? Should these functions, rather, be seen as means to an end in their own right, and be integrated appropriately into the FDF’s remaining tasks?

Enhancing international marketing capability and export performance of emerging market SMEs in crises: strategic flexibility and digital technologies

PurposeThis study investigates to what extent strategic flexibility of international strategic alliances (ISAs) affects export performance of emerging market small and medium-sized enterprises (ESMEs) via international marketing capability in crises. It also examines whether these ESMEs’ adoption of digital technology strengthens the impact of strategic flexibility of ISAs on international marketing capability.Design/methodology/approachBased on the international alliance and dynamic capability perspectives on strategic flexibility, the authors develop a conceptual model and empirically examine the mediation and moderation effects between strategic flexibility of ISAs, international marketing capability, export performance and adoption of digital technology. The authors collected survey data from 129 ESMEs located in Pakistan between May 2021 and August 2021 and tested the conceptual model with hierarchical-moderated regression analysis.FindingsThe findings suggest that strategic flexibility of ISAs positively impacts on export performance of ESMEs in crises. Moreover, the authors found that international marketing significantly mediates the relationship between strategic flexibility of ISAs and export performance of ESMEs. Also, the adoption of digital technologies significantly moderates the relationship between strategic flexibility of ISAs positively and international marketing capability.Originality/valueThe authors take strategic flexibility of ISAs in the context of the emerging market and how ESMEs enhance export performance in a time of crisis, which extends the prior ESMEs’ international marketing strategy and crisis management literature. In particular, the authors show that strategic flexibility of ISAs is a vital dynamic capability to enhance export performance of ESMEs via international marketing capability and adoption of digital technologies.

Crisis Management: What COVID-19 Taught the World

New strategies, solutions and organizational procedures are required to deal with the many living realities that are necessitated by advances in science and technology as well as patterns of human connection in our time to deal with crises today. This study examines the most recent social issues linked with the COVID-19 outbreak in an attempt to establish critical crisis management objectives and priorities. People are worried because governments have put restrictions on both groups and people. In light of the problems that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, this research will focus on examining various crisis management strategies. Expert opinions were solicited in order to determine gaps and new paths in crisis management. Unfortunately, we could not find much information in the literature about successful recovery strategies and future prospects for the businesses hit worst by the current COVID-19 outbreaks. Several important findings have emerged from studies of the causes, effects, and management of crises. The paper claims that while disasters and crises are inevitable, they can have less of an impact if well managed. An organization's ability to handle vital activities during a crisis is enhanced by this. This research shows how the crisis management challenges brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic provide an opportunity, and how flexibility is a crucial part of contemporary strategic management. In order to better understand and assist the processes of such events, the research found that crisis management methodologies and concepts may be extended and used. Finally, we suggest several avenues for further research into the topic of international crisis management.

How to Improve Marketing Capability and Export Performance of Emerging Market SMEs in Crises?

This paper examines how and to what extent strategic flexibility of international strategic partnerships (ISPs) affects export performance of emerging market small and medium-sized enterprises (EMSMEs) via international marketing capability in crises. Also, it investigates whether these EMSMEs’ adoption of digital technology strengthens the impact of strategic flexibility of ISPs on international marketing capability. We developed a conceptual model based on the international partnership and dynamic capability perspectives on strategic flexibility. The study empirically examines the mediation and moderation effects between strategic flexibility of ISPs, international marketing capability, export performance, and adoption of digital technology. We test the model using 129 Pakistani EMSMEs with hierarchical regression analyses. The findings suggest that strategic flexibility of ISPs positively impacts on export performance of EMSMEs in crises. Moreover, we found that international marketing significantly mediates the relationship between strategic flexibility of ISPs and export performance of EMSMEs. Also, the adoption of digital technologies significantly moderates the association between strategic flexibility of ISPs positively and international marketing capability. We take strategic flexibility of ISPs in the context of the emerging market and how EMSMEs enhance export performance in a time of crisis, which extends the prior EMSMEs international marketing strategy and crisis management literature. The result demonstrates that strategic flexibility of ISPs is a vital dynamic capability to enhance export performance of EMSMEs via international marketing capability and adoption of digital technologies.

Rethink International Intervention. Afghanistan, Mali, and Now?

The recent take-over of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan marks a turn in international crisis and conflict management. The configuration as a double-hatted mission to secure and rebuild on the one hand, and in countering insurgency and terrorism on the other finally failed, an outcome that seems to recur in Mali. International law of transition and whole-of-system approaches remain however hypercritical work on the ground. A successful flexible framework for sustainable conflict transformation and peace processes must absorb lessons of both autocratic realpolitik and a massive trend of bipolarisation of geopolitics.

Comparative analysis of international crisis management in Covid-19 pandemic

The article identifies economic shocks that accompanied previous pandemics and the features of the 2020 recession. An analytical review of typical measures for overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating its economic consequences allowed the authors to identify problems common to all countries and specific challenges for groups of countries. The research made it possible to conclude that in 2020 the vector of support in Russia coincides with the directions of support in most countries, while in the past crises Russia has gone its own way. The authors justify, that applying a network approach to government anti-crisis programs may largely increase their success.

Pápai követek helye és szerepe az egyház békemissziójában az új típusú biztonsági kihívások fényében

A katolikus egyház egyedülálló lehetőségekkel rendelkezik a nemzetközi válságkezelés és a béke előmozdítása területén. A katolikus egyház, amellett, hogy vallási közösség a Szentszék a nemzetközi jog alanya. A jelenlegi pápa igyekszik az egész dikaszteriális rendszert úgy poziciónálni, hogy a béketeremtésnek eleget tudjon tenni. A dolog természete okán, ebben a misszióban a pápai követek és a szentszéki diplomáciai missziók eminens módon vesznek részt. Különösen nagy szerep jut a válságövezetekben és a nemzetközi szervezetekben tevékenykedő diplomatáknak. Az Egyházi Törvénykönyv csak röviden mutatja be és főképp jogi szempontból a pápai követek kánoni helyzetét. A CIC emellett a klasszikus felosztási rendszert követi: a követek részegyházak és az országok irányába való feladatairól beszél. A békemisszió azonban az egész követi küldetést átjárja, a jogi megközelítésnél sokkal összetettebb, ugyanakkor nagyon izgalmas sokrétű tevékenység. Erre a sokszínűségre mutat rá ez a tanulmány.

The roles of nonprofit organizations in the management of COVID-19 emergency

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major public health emergency, which needs broad-based participation of the government and all other sectors of society in crisis management. This article analyzed the characteristics of COVID-19 event and experience of international public health crisis management of nonprofit organizations. Based on real cases and roles of nonprofit organizations in COVID-19 crisis in Wuhan City, we put forward policy suggestions on greater roles of nonprofit organizations in COVID-19 emergency.

Lógicas de prevenção, legibilidade e intervenção: composições cartográficas sobre o “crime” no policiamento preditivo e na gestão de crises internacionais

O presente artigo contrasta duas lógicas distintas de prevenção que participam na governança contemporânea do crime: o policiamento preditivo e a gestão de crises internacionais. Mostramos como, nos dois casos analisados, o "crime" é tornado legível enquanto problema, possibilitando formas distintas de intervenção, a partir da realocação da presença policial no caso do policiamento preditivo, e da difusão de modelos de boa governança no caso da gestão de crises internacionais. Ilustramos como ambos os processos dependem da construção autoritativa de cartografias de risco para informar a adoção de tais modos de intervenção em nome da gestão do "crime". Nessas cartografias, a distribuição espacial do risco se funda, por um lado, na autoridade do conhecimento estatístico, e, por outro lado, na presença do especialista no “campo”. As formas de intervenção prescritas nesses contextos, por sua vez, reproduzem uma leitura gerencialista da prevenção do fenômeno criminal, que prioriza intervenções focadas na gestão do crime enquanto uma conjunção de riscos, relegando ao segundo plano elementos estruturais que contribuem para sua existência e circunscrevendo, assim, a sua política à gestão de crises e eventos.

Different shows, different stories: How German TV formats challenged the government’s framing of the Ukraine crisis

In a complex information environment, the Ukraine crisis became a litmus test for the German government’s capacity to legitimate its international crisis management in Ukraine and in confrontations with Russia. This study investigates crisis coverage in the pluralized German television system and how it is shaped by trends of infotainment and globalization. It asks how different TV formats framed the Ukraine crisis and challenged or approved governmental crisis policy. Comparing the framing of the Ukraine crisis between March 2014 and December 2015 in German government communication, public service newscast Tagesschau, Russian foreign broadcaster’s newscast Der Fehlende Part (RT Deutsch) and seven infotainment programs (talk shows and satirical shows), the findings reveal essential limitations for the indexing thesis. All TV formats substantially differed in their depiction of the crisis according to their respective format conventions. Whereas public service news mainly reflected governmental frames, the foreign and infotainment formats challenged the legitimacy of German crisis policy.

Sociomaterial relations and adaptive space in routine performance

This article examines the various processes through which sociomaterial relations constitute the performance of a routine. The study’s theoretical underpinnings are linked to sociomateriality in understanding the dynamics of routine performance. In this study, adaptive space furthers sociomaterial relations and processes, and their dynamics to constitute the routine performance. The findings are based on ethnographic research that was conducted during an international crisis management exercise. The analysis consists of three field episodes that illustrate the different processes in which the sociomaterial matters in routine performance. The article contributes to the theoretical discussion by showing, first, how adaptive space enables going beyond the sociomaterial dualism and transfers the theoretical emphasis to the fluidity and dynamism of these relations. It also draws attention to the sociomaterial processes that constitute the performance of the routine. Third, it further shows how through sociomaterial relations and processes the organizing of professional knowledge co-constitution is performed and managed.

Understanding of Crisis Management: A Theoretical Literature Review

Crisis management is a relatively new field. It was founded in the mid-1980s following several natural and man-made crises stemming from modernisation, according to the pioneers of the field. This paper's aim is to discuss the theoretical models and concepts required to manage a crisis. Moreover, it addresses public administration challenges with dealing with a crisis. The research strategy is built upon Cooper's taxonomy of a literature review to determine the appropriate methodology for achieving an inclusive and critical review for crisis management. A theoretical literature review is conducted to focus on theoretical concepts so as to foster an understanding of the management mechanisms of crisis and the main policy landmarks to mitigate the repercussions of the crisis. This paper addresses the concept of risk society, the typologies of crisis, the interaction risk dimensions, and the role of public administration in responding to the crisis. It considers international crisis management due to the spillover effect of the crisis. It also offers some discussion about the challenges of managing the crisis, including the impossibility of circumscribing the effect of the crisis, the effect of politics in responding to the crisis, and the small events that may cause greater consequences.

Evaluation of occupational physical load during 6-month international crisis management operation.

Generally, operational military duties are associated with a variety of stressors, such as prolonged physical activity (PA). However, limited information is available on the occupational workload or changes in PA during international military operations. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the changes in body composition, stress biomarkers, PA, and heart rate (HR) responses of 79 male soldiers during a 6-month international crisis management operation. Measurements were conducted 3 times in South-Lebanon during the operation. Body composition was assessed by the bioelectrical impedance method. Blood samples were analyzed for serum testosterone, sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), cortisol and insulin-like growth factor. Saliva sampling was used for analyzing stress biomarkers, cortisol and α-amylase. Heart rate and physical activity were monitored by a recordable belt and tri-axial accelerometer, respectively. Increases in muscle mass (39.2±4.1 vs. 39.5±4.2 kg, p < 0.05) and testosterone (15.9±4.6 vs. 17.2±4 nmol/l, p < 0.01), and reductions in PA variables (e.g., daily step count 9472±2547 vs. 8321±2720, p < 0.05) were observed during the first half (i.e., PRE-MID) of the study. The increase in muscle mass remained significant during the latter half (PRE-POST, 39.2±4.1 vs. 39.6±4.4 kg, p < 0.05), but also fat mass increased (MID-POST, 10.6±4.6 vs. 11.0±4.7 kg, p < 0.05) while SHBG (MID-POST, 31.8±12.1 vs. 26.6±13.2 nmol/l, p < 0.01) and cortisol (MID-POST, 445±116 vs. 400±123 nmol/l, p < 0.05) decreased. With the exception of increased concentration of salivary α-amylase (PRE-POST, 36.5±33.7 vs. 55.1±39.7 U/ml), the acute stress biomarkers and HR responses remained unchanged. Furthermore, the low quantity of PA, low HR values and subjective ratings of exertion refer to rather light physical workload. Due to the operatively calm nature of the working environment, the present soldiers did not express any significant signs of physical overload during the study period. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(2):185-197.