The Role of the Media in a Democratic Society in the Context of an Existential Threat of a Military Nature

The role of civil society in ensuring national stability in conditions of armed conflict

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the large-scale transformation of national security public policy and comprehensively conceptualises the role of civil society as a key proactive subject in ensuring national resilience amidst a full-scale armed conflict. It is compellingly argued that a modern war of attrition objectively negates the efficacy of exclusively military instruments and rigid hierarchical governance, inevitably demanding a rapid transition towards a polycentric model of cooperation. The phenomenon of unprecedented civic mobilisation in Ukraine is analysed in detail, vividly manifested through the institutionalisation of the volunteer movement, systematic crowdfunding, support for vulnerable populations, and the prompt protection of critical infrastructure. The study also investigates the participation of non-governmental organisations in international advocacy, the debunking of hostile narratives, and the direct documentation of war crimes. It is substantiated that the synergy within the functional «government–society–business» triangle forms a robust, multi-level ecosystem for countering existential crises. Significant emphasis is placed on the strategic importance of decentralised network models, wherein diverse non-state actors not only successfully absorb destructive shocks but also act as the primary drivers of the early recovery process based strictly on a bottom-up approach. The complex demographic and crucial socio-psychological dimensions of national resilience are examined separately, particularly the invaluable role of civic initiatives in preserving domestic human capital and ensuring the continuity of the educational process. Special attention is given to the issues of veteran reintegration and the social adaptation of internally displaced persons as guarantees of societal cohesion. Furthermore, the core contemporary challenges facing the non-governmental sector are outlined, encompassing not only the critical emotional burnout of activists but also the gradual contraction of donor funding and various regulatory inconsistencies. A comprehensive conclusion is drawn regarding the urgent necessity for further legislative and institutional consolidation of an equitable partnership between the state and society to guarantee the long-term sustainable development of the entire nation.

Disinformation as a Tool of Hybrid Warfare: Russian Information Aggression Against Ukraine (2022–2025)

This article examines the structure, mechanisms, and consequences of information aggression conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in the context of full-scale war. The study conceptualizes information aggression as a complex system of influence based on the coordinated dissemination of false messages, the manipulation of public emotions, and the disruption of trust in legitimate informational institutions. Particular attention is given to the transformation of digital environments into primary channels of hostile influence, where algorithmic content distribution amplifies the spread of disinformation and deepens audience polarization. By analyzing narrative dynamics related to key wartime events, the article reveals how disinformation adapts to societal vulnerabilities and intensifies at critical moments. The study highlights the vulnerability of users with insufficient media literacy, who unintentionally facilitate further distribution of manipulative content through engagement-based virality mechanisms. Empirical findings suggest that campaigns targeting economic insecurity, military fatigue, and distrust toward political institutions significantly affect collective emotional states while shaping public assessments of Ukraine’s resilience and international support. Based on these results, the research argues for the strategic importance of strengthening media literacy, integrating fact-checking practices into the communication ecosystem, and fostering institutional cooperation between state and civil society actors. Understanding the logic of Russian information aggression remains essential for building structural resistance and safeguarding democratic stability during the ongoing conflict. The study employs qualitative content analysis of disinformation narratives documented in Ukrainian digital media (2022–2025). It draws on monitoring reports by the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), VoxCheck, and StopFake, combined with a systematic review of academic literature on information warfare and media trust.

A Sociological Analysis of the Role of the Media in the Political Power Legitimization Processes in Russia in the First Half of the 1990s

This article analyzes the discursive strategies of Russian mass media during the period 1991–1993 in the con-text of the legitimization of Boris Yeltsin’s power. On the base of a qualitative discourse analysis of publications in leading print media and television interviews, the authors revealed mechanisms for constructing binary op-positions as well as techniques for symbolically stigmatizing institutional opponents who were not simply criti-cized but labeled as threats to stability and order in the country. It is established that the media strategy of op-position was accompanied by dynamics in public trust: a correlation is recorded between the intensity of con-flictual discourse and fluctuations in the president’s rating. It is concluded that in the context of a transitional society, the mass media acted as legitimation institutional mechanisms displacement with political design. They actively participated in the political design of reality, which underscores their influence on public con-sciousness and the political life of the country during this historically significant period.

Democratic accountability in times of war: a comparative study of Lithuania and Ukraine’s approaches to the Ottawa Convention

Frontline democracies are presently confronted with a significant problem between the universal moral imperatives of humanitarian law and the urgent, existential demands of national security. This article examines the operation of democratic accountability in high-intensity conflict by analyzing the differing reactions of Lithuania and Ukraine to the Ottawa Convention after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. This research employs a qualitative comparative case study strategy grounded in the most-similar systems concept, integrating the institutional paradigm with E. de Vattel’s classical law of nations doctrine and Ch. Hyde’s principle of good faith about state responsibility. These frameworks offer a comprehensive analytical perspective to assess the significant and intentional constraints imposed on the use of coercive force within a democratic government. The analysis indicates a notable divergence in legal strategic adaptations: Lithuania adhered to a legally conventional approach of formal withdrawal to reintroduce anti-personnel mines for strategic deterrence, whereas Ukraine opted for a necessity-driven temporary suspension of humanitarian law obligations while technically preserving its formal status as a State Party. This comparison illustrates that differing institutional contexts – specifically NATO and EU membership compared to active, full-scale warfare – profoundly alter the principle of good faith and the practical implementation of domestic accountability measures. This article concludes that maintaining rigorous democratic oversight in military decision-making is not only possible but essential even during a state of emergency. It ultimately reinforces the vital necessity of stringent persistent societal scrutiny to prevent the degradation of democratic norms during prolonged crises, ensuring that state survival remains anchored in a steadfast commitment to civilian protection.

Ambient Propaganda: Tuning-in to WarTok During Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Narrative Building in the Age of Cyber Nationalism: Comparative Analysis of China and the United States

This paper tends to explore how national identity is contested in two global powers, China and the United State (U.S.) through the lens of cyber nationalism. Based on Walter Fisher’s narrative paradigm theory and Manuel Castells, Network Society Theory, this research analyses the way ideological narratives are contested through digital platforms where government and citizens engage in powerful acts of storytelling. Despite the differences, both states rely on the digital space to support national identity and political legitimacy in a manner that is rooted in culture and emotionally appealing. The findings of this research reveals that cyber nationalism is not a mono-dimensional phenomenon, it is formed by both the top and bottom, the actions of the state and that of individuals. This research provides a nuanced perspective on the narratives that impact our digital age as masses increasingly turn to the internet to make sense of their belongings.