Higher Seminar in Statecraft and Strategic Communication | Per Ekman
Abstract: Successful diplomacy and communication are important tools of statecraft, and strategic narratives are crucial for state diplomacy and foreign policy. The seminar presentation is divided into two parts. The first part discusses a research project that aims to enhance our understanding of how strategic narratives are formed and used in the context of a contemporary large-scale war. The project will empirically study Ukraine’s strategic narratives and diplomacy during Russia’s large-scale invasion. Ukraine's ability to defend itself surprised many experts who had assumed that Russia would quickly take control of Kyiv and significant parts of Ukraine in 2022. The broader question the project seeks to answer is how Ukraine managed to stand firm against Russia during the first two years of war and, more specifically, how Ukrainian senior officials used strategic narratives in this effort. The second part takes a step back and discusses two narratives used in Ukraine during peacetime, namely "Safeguarding Ukraine’s Independence" and "Ukraine as a Bridge between East and West." The presenter argues that these narratives dominated Ukraine’s foreign policy and diplomacy before 2014. These strategic narratives revolve around different views of Ukraine’s past, present, and future, with a focus on relations with Russia and the West. Finally, the presentation addresses issues with strategic narratives, such as when they do not align with developments on the ground or when domestic and external actors challenge them.
Bio: Ekman was awarded a PhD in Political Science from Uppsala University in September 2024. His dissertation examined the foreign policies of Ukraine and Georgia from independence until 2021 and included interviews with key decision-makers. Ekman’s postdoctoral project will focus on the use of diplomacy and strategic narratives in times of war. Specifically, he will analyze Ukrainian diplomacy and strategic narratives used during Russia’s 2022 invasion. Ekman has been a visiting scholar at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University.