Katri Pynnöniemi has published widely on changes in the political system of Russia and on Russian foreign and security policy. Her current research deals with Russia’s strategic thinking, focusing in particular on deception as part of Russia’s strategy, evolution of Russian (military) thought on threats to Russian national security and the meaning of war in Russian strategy. The research offers insights on the political and ideological assumptions that underpin Russia’s approach to conflicts and security, for example, on the question of escalation and the initial period of war in Russian military thought.
Viktor Lambin’s PhD research focuses on Russian Security Studies, particularly on the concept of "enemization" in Russian public discourse. Enemization refers to the state-led process of labeling and dehumanizing individuals, social groups, or external actors, turning them into perceived enemies and threats in the eyes of the Russian population. As Russia's foreign and domestic policies grow more militant, this enemy rhetoric intensifies, providing the regime with justification for harsh repression or aggressive foreign actions, such as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This research examines enemization at three key levels in Russian society: strategic security thinking, traditional mass media, and the pro-war segment of the Russian-language internet (Runet).
Santeri Kytoneva's research is currently exploring the ideational and ideological basis of Russian Foreign and Security Policy.
Ideology as a constituent part of maintaining political order within discursive space offers a starting point for research, but does not get to explicating the parts that constitute its core. Rather than looking to define any political ideology strictly, Santeri’s research focuses on clarifying the role of different Russian neoconservative ideologues and the Russian Orthodox Church and their use of different ideas in the contemporary Russian ideological landscape. This research maps out the Russian ideological landscape by focusing on 1) looking at the instrumental use of certain ideas and philosophers and 2) conceptualising general characteristics that manifest outwardly in the contemporary Russian political setting. The first aspect means focusing on the systematic and non-systematic use of different ideas by the ideologues and Russian political elites. The second aspect focuses on making sense of distinct developments, such as increased emphasis on “traditional” and “spiritual-moral” values in Russian political discourse. Santeri’s PhD research contributes to this larger research task through case examples on how the instrumental use of certain ideas is related to the latter, broader developments in the Russian ideological landscape.
Mira Ruokolainen applies an interdisciplinary approach in her doctoral research, which combines perspectives from security and intelligence studies with methodologies that investigate systemic aspects in cultures and belief systems. The approach reflects her previous focus of study on contemporary strategies and tactics of governing in the broader contexts of Study of Religions, Russian Studies and Security Studies.
Ruokolainen’s doctoral study Russia’s Strategic ‘Islam’ investigates the interconnection of Russian strategic thought and security apparatus’ utilization of the discourse and societal structures around Islam during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The research project analyzes cases which include manipulative and distortive use of ‘Islam’, aiming to divert and influence decision making capabilities and morale of its target audiences – within its borders and abroad. By looking into a topic that bears a long history of colonial rationale and securitization of population groups, the study aims to serve as an entry point to analysis of overarching dynamics of strategic thought and systemic factors in Russia, and addresses the ways civilians are subjected and targeted in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Amelie Tolvin is a visiting PhD Candidate with the Mannerheim Professorship of Russian Security Studies Working group. Her research focuses on Russian military violence, including intra-unit violence, fratricide, and violence against civilians. Specifically, it seeks to understand the origins and causes of violence perpetrated by the Russian armed forces during its invasion of Ukraine. She uses comparative methods to trace how military unit characteristics and behaviours shape patterns of violence across different occupied communities.