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The Nature of Conflict in the Arctic: A Rationalist Approach to the Conflict Triggers
Benda, Lukáš ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (advisor) ; Střítecký, Vít (referee)
Lukáš Benda Master's thesis 2023 The Nature of Conflict in the Arctic: A Rationalist Approach to the Conflict Triggers Abstract This Master's thesis explores the triggers of the conflict in the Arctic between the littoral states. Its goal is to identify key conflict drivers, based on the existing literature, then assess their intensity, based on the existing framework and supplemented by this thesis' own definition of conflict. By using the theory of rational choice and the bargaining model of war, it is studied why and how has the Arctic issues not escalated into armed confrontation, a topic which has been prominent in the literature at one time. By applying the aforementioned theories, this thesis links the conflict triggers to an intensity level, while applying the bargaining model of war on a non-violent conflict. The conclusions should determine the intensity of each conflict trigger, while explaining the changes in the conflict, including the external influencing factors. Developing its own definition of conflict and an intensity scale, this thesis aims to fill the gap in the existing literature, which usually focuses on the conflict as a singular topic, while introducing and exploring different layers of the conflict derived from identification of the conflict triggers.
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Formation of Pro-Russian Sentiment in Belarus and Serbia during the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Rjazanova, Julie ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
This thesis examines how Russia uses propaganda to build alliances with Serbia and Belarus in order to expand its influence and mobilize support. The study investigates the specific narratives and messages employed online focusing on how they shape public opinion and create a positive perception of Russia within the targeted countries. To get practical insights into the subject, the content analysis chosen as a research method for the thesis focuses on the content of selected media outlets in each studied country. In this context, the formation of pro-Russian sentiment is viewed as a social movement seeking social change. The thesis also incorporates the concept of hybrid warfare, which offers valuable insights into contemporary Russian strategic thinking and security challenges.
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Civil Applications of Autonomous Systems: Implications for the Military Sector
Fortunati, Lorenza ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (advisor) ; Nikolić, Luka (referee)
This thesis aims to examine the growing development of autonomous systems from a civilian and military perspective. The literature analysis has shown that in the military sector there is much access to an interactional-scientific and literary debate, especially on the growing possibility of autonomous weapons development. On the other hand, however, the civilian sector is increasingly advancing the development of autonomous systems. Many of these are already being applied in civilian society: from self-driving cars to medical equipment. Nonetheless, the study showed that although these sectors are going at different speeds, the risks and challenges related to the topic of autonomous machines are very similar, especially with regard to the concept of responsibility and human-machine nexus. For this reason, this thesis aims to analyze the civilian experience in the field of autonomy to determine whether there might be any transferable lessons from the civilian to the military world for the future development of autonomous weapons. After a thorough analysis of the aircraft crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX and the accidents caused by the self-driving cars, this thesis concludes that the best way to address the ethical and moral challenges of autonomous weapons is to develop and design such systems...
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An exploration into the digital Stop-the-Steal community in the United States
Hamill, Laura Rose ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
Internal Abstract This work attempts to uncover a more nuanced and compassionate understanding of the Stop- the-Steal community within the United States that believes the 2020 elections were fraudulent, an assertion that has since been unsubstantiated after numerous investigations and lawsuits. Despite the lack of evidence of fraud, those harboring this sentiment persist, and more insight into their convictions is warranted. Using the Significance Quest theory, this work peeks into the needs, narratives, and network this group encompasses and aims to bring more understanding to a group frequently overlooked and oversimplified. It does so by exploring and observing the digital footprint of one of the groups formed on Gab Social. By following this online group closely, the author attempts to tap into the precursors of this group's establishment, the narratives that keep it alive, and the network it has preserved even after Trump has left office. It is with high hopes that by gaining more insight into this portion of society, we may find more that unites us and that with acknowledgment comes accountability, and damage comes redemption.
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Deterrence in counter-terrorism: the case of Nigeria
Tongpan, Timothy Yusufu ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
To assess the effectiveness of deterrence measures, we adopt data from the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). The GTI provides comprehensive assessments of trends and patterns of terrorism across different regions and countries and offers a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of counter- terrorism strategies. Our analysis will evaluate the impact of deterrence measures on reducing terrorist activities in Nigeria and identify the key factors that contribute to the success or failure of deterrence. This study's findings will be of significant interest to policymakers, security experts, and the broader Counter-terrorism has been a critical issue in Nigeria over the last decade, with terrorist groups such as Boko Haram posing a significant threat to the country's security and stability. In response, the Nigerian government has implemented various strategies, including deterrence, to combat this menace. Deterrence refers to the use of measures aimed at discouraging potential terrorists from engaging in violent activities. The effectiveness of deterrence in Nigeria's counter-terrorism strategy between 2009 and 2019, with a case study of Boko Haram, is the focus of this study. The period under review is significant as it marks the rise of Boko Haram and its transformation into a formidable terrorist...
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Misinformation Variation? Looking Through the Gendered Lens
Kochel, Alexis ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
In recent years, the growth of the far-right has been spreading across borders, becoming a major international crisis. As the far-right is growing, modern technology has become a powerful platform for recruiting members and spreading misinformation; individuals from anywhere can join, regardless of gender. As a result, women's increased number, impact, and roles within these far-right groups are expanding and becoming familiar. This thesis conducted a qualitative content analysis to depict the difference between women and men when writing messages of political misinformation online, specifically the misinformation regarding the 2020 United States presidential election. By utilizing Deborah Tannen's The Difference Theory, separated language-coded categories were created that depicted an established numerically and qualitatively set of differences between the discourse of the genders. The analysis described some differences between the method and meaning behind the message, but also similarities. The top used categories were the same for both genders, few were similar, and eight were different. It revealed that females expressed similarly to the males; however, males did not use the female-oriented categories as much as the females did the males'.
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Deployment and proliferation of Turkish UAVs and their impact on regional balance of power
Kocáková, Lenka ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
This diploma thesis is focused on discussing Turkish unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) deployments in Libyan and Syrian conflicts in 2019 and 2020 respectively, and their implications on regional balance of power. Theoretical framework is based on the balance of power theory, and more specifically on the concept of regional balance of power which is concerned with more nuanced dynamics that occur on a regional level. The concept is then applied to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where Turkey is the main case study of this paper, and its involvement in Libya and Syria makes both countries the sub- case studies. The development of UAVs, their categorization, some technical aspects, and their brief history, showing how Turkey emerged as an important producer is also discussed. The findings of this study show a significance of Turkey's participation in both conflicts and the deployment of its own UAVs in Libya and Syria, among other factors, which resulted in Turkey achieving its objectives and shaping the outcomes of both conflicts. Consequently, the thesis suggests that Turkey indeed plays a key role in defining the dynamics in the MENA region.
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Climate Security: An Analysis of Czech Media Discourse
Kamberská, Sára ; Střítecký, Vít (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
Climate change is increasingly being connected to security, both in rhetoric and in practice. This linkage, however, is not without controversy, especially as the science of what is known about the effects of climate change on security is far from settled - if it can ever be. Even when the language of security is used, climate change can pose a threat to many different objects in many different ways - there is no one meaning to 'climate security'. Given all this complexity, analysing how the climate-security relationship is formulated is crucial. This analysis has examined this issue in the Czech news media discourse, relying on the four climate security discourses as identified in the literature. Despite its methodological limitations, the study has found that in the Czech media context, the human security discourse is most prominent, followed by the discourse of ecological security. The national and international security discourses were much less prevalent. The prevalence of the discourses, as well as their specific content, differs in several significant areas to what has been identified in other contexts, suggesting the importance of studying these topics in a variety of settings.
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Neoclassical realism: a metatheoretical critique
Šenk, Michal ; Hynek, Nikola (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
Neoclassical realism entered the fields of International Relations and Security Studies in the late 1990s as a powerful new approach to explaining foreign policy. Building on the combination of structural and classical realism, it promised to offer better explanations than other existing approaches, such as liberalism or offensive and defensive realism. As such, it quickly became a popular and an arguably potent choice for many a scholar, progressively growing into prominence that continues to hold even as it enters its third decade. That said, there exists something of a paradox surrounding neoclassical realism: despite its popularity and scores of sound empirical works under its banner, the school appears dramatically ill-defined to the extent that nobody seems to be sure what it is and what it is about. This is where this thesis comes in to play: building on hitherto scattered and piecemeal critiques of neoclassical realism, it seeks to shed more light on the school's apparent success by providing the first truly comprehensive metatheoretical critique of neoclassical realism. Following the simple question of 'what is neoclassical realism', the thesis arrives at the conclusion that though it may be far from a uniform research program or a general theory, neoclassical realism exhibits a number of...
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The Ukraine crisis, Russia and the West: clashing strategic visions
Stan, Mihai-Sebastian ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (advisor) ; Solovyeva, Anzhelika (referee)
This thesis looks at the 2014 Ukraine crisis through the lenses of strategic culture by analyzing both the Russian Federation and the European Union's strategic cultures. Over the last eight years, the annexation of Crimea and intervention in Donbass have received a great deal of attention as it was the first geopolitical power struggle in Europe between East and West since the Cold War. Since most of the scholarly work dealing with the 2014 Ukraine crisis have taken a realist approach, this thesis is taking a constructivist approach in order to cover this gap. The paper will cover the Russian strategic culture - the institutional influence of the intelligence services and agencies, foreign political rhetoric, security-related texts, the influence of the leading institutions and the role of 'active measures' - as well as the one of the EU - the influence of the German strategic culture, multilateralism and military restraint. Overall, the thesis will try to shed new light on the 2014 Ukraine crisis so that we can garner more insight on this event. Key words: Ukraine crisis; strategic culture; the Russian Federation; the European Union; Germany; Crimea
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