What the study found
The article argues that framings of Eastern Europe are used in contemporary information warfare. It says the Russian frame, built around ideas such as the “Russian World,” “Pan-Slavism,” and “Near Abroad,” has been used to justify colonial wars, while the Western frame can preserve a Cold War division and help legitimize Russia’s geopolitical ambitions.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say sociology of war should pay more attention to meta-frames of (dis)information warfare, meaning the broader narratives that shape how conflict is understood. The study suggests that these framings have implications for security in Europe, and especially in Lithuania.
What the researchers tested
The article critically discusses the formation of different frames of Eastern Europe and their actual and potential implications for security. It also examines Lithuania’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine through solidarity with war refugees, national security policies, and civil defence response.
What worked and what didn't
The authors state that the Russian framing served to justify colonial wars. They also state that the Western frame perpetuates a Cold War division and contributes to legitimizing Russia’s geopolitical ambitions. The article presents Lithuania’s response as rebuking the colonial trap of Eastern Europe framing.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe a formal empirical method, sample, or data source. The claims are presented as the authors’ critical discussion and argument, so the scope is limited to the framing and implications described in the abstract.
Key points
- The article argues that Eastern Europe is framed in ways that function within contemporary information warfare.
- Russian narratives named in the abstract include the “Russian World,” “Pan-Slavism,” and “Near Abroad.”
- The authors say the Western frame of Eastern Europe can perpetuate a Cold War division.
- Lithuania’s response is described through solidarity with war refugees, national security policies, and civil defence response.
- The abstract presents the paper as a critical discussion rather than a detailed empirical study.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Eastern Europe frames shape security narratives in Lithuania
- Authors:
- Diana Janušauskienė, Dmytro Mamaiev
- Institutions:
- Lithuanian Social Research Centre, Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-01
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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