Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Wake the Sleepwalkers! An Exploratory Analysis of Ontological (In)Security in Czechia and Slovakia

Dolan, Kathryn Rose LU (2023) STVM23 20231
Department of Political Science
Abstract (Swedish)
In light of the current situation in the EU, after the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Europe is undoubtedly facing a critical situation. This thesis conducts an exploratory analysis of ontological (in)security in Czechia and Slovakia to investigate a region where very few academics have analyzed it from an ontological security perspective. By using a mixed method multiple case study including discursive analysis and secondary analysis of public surveys from the Eurobarometer and the Visegrad Fund, the research identifies key effects on Czechia and Slovakia’s ontological security using the theoretical framework developed by Kinnvall and Mitzen, outlining the three effects that define ontological insecurity. First as... (More)
In light of the current situation in the EU, after the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Europe is undoubtedly facing a critical situation. This thesis conducts an exploratory analysis of ontological (in)security in Czechia and Slovakia to investigate a region where very few academics have analyzed it from an ontological security perspective. By using a mixed method multiple case study including discursive analysis and secondary analysis of public surveys from the Eurobarometer and the Visegrad Fund, the research identifies key effects on Czechia and Slovakia’s ontological security using the theoretical framework developed by Kinnvall and Mitzen, outlining the three effects that define ontological insecurity. First as individuals trade their freedoms for perceived security. Second, the development of ‘risk societies’ where threats are prioritized provides security but limits creativity in the policy-making process. Thirdly, the public becomes vulnerable to violent political discourse that uses scapegoating and othering. When applied, the analysis reveals significant effects on Czechia and Slovakia’s support for policies on transitioning to renewable energy, digital security and governance, and protection against nationalist rhetoric. The thesis concludes by providing an exponential amount of potential future topics for further research. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dolan, Kathryn Rose LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM23 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Ontological Security, Critical Situations, Biographical Narrative, Czechia, Slovakia
language
English
id
9115545
date added to LUP
2023-08-27 16:22:35
date last changed
2023-08-27 16:22:35
@misc{9115545,
  abstract     = {{In light of the current situation in the EU, after the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Europe is undoubtedly facing a critical situation. This thesis conducts an exploratory analysis of ontological (in)security in Czechia and Slovakia to investigate a region where very few academics have analyzed it from an ontological security perspective. By using a mixed method multiple case study including discursive analysis and secondary analysis of public surveys from the Eurobarometer and the Visegrad Fund, the research identifies key effects on Czechia and Slovakia’s ontological security using the theoretical framework developed by Kinnvall and Mitzen, outlining the three effects that define ontological insecurity. First as individuals trade their freedoms for perceived security. Second, the development of ‘risk societies’ where threats are prioritized provides security but limits creativity in the policy-making process. Thirdly, the public becomes vulnerable to violent political discourse that uses scapegoating and othering. When applied, the analysis reveals significant effects on Czechia and Slovakia’s support for policies on transitioning to renewable energy, digital security and governance, and protection against nationalist rhetoric. The thesis concludes by providing an exponential amount of potential future topics for further research.}},
  author       = {{Dolan, Kathryn Rose}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Wake the Sleepwalkers! An Exploratory Analysis of Ontological (In)Security in Czechia and Slovakia}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}