The trembling arena of rhetorics during crises: How internal communication is positioned in relation to the external dimension
(2025) SKOM12 20251Department of Strategic Communication
- Abstract (Swedish)
- This thesis explores the positioning of internal crisis communication in relation to external communication, specifically within the context of governmental crisis response. Guided by the case of the Lebanon crisis in 2024, this study investigates how crisis experts from a European Ministry of Foreign Affairs interpret internal communication across the three phases of crises, drawing on the Rhetorical Arena Theory. Through thirteen semi-structured interviews with professionals from the communications, consular, and crisis coordination departments, this research identifies how internal and external strategies interact, overlap, and evolve throughout crisis stages. The performed thematic analysis revealed three core insights: (1.) Internal... (More)
- This thesis explores the positioning of internal crisis communication in relation to external communication, specifically within the context of governmental crisis response. Guided by the case of the Lebanon crisis in 2024, this study investigates how crisis experts from a European Ministry of Foreign Affairs interpret internal communication across the three phases of crises, drawing on the Rhetorical Arena Theory. Through thirteen semi-structured interviews with professionals from the communications, consular, and crisis coordination departments, this research identifies how internal and external strategies interact, overlap, and evolve throughout crisis stages. The performed thematic analysis revealed three core insights: (1.) Internal and external communication strategies are symbiotic, porous, and adapted towards the stakeholder landscape; (2.) Sub-arena dynamics within the rhetorical arena are shaped by the intensity, direction, and tone of stakeholder voices; (3.) Internal communication shifts in function and visibility across crisis phases. By focusing on the public crisis communication domain and incorporating internal perspectives, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of communicative complexity and advocates for more nuanced integration of internal voices in crisis communication strategy development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9204468
- author
- Tilanus, Cathelijne Dirk Iréne Maria LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- A qualitative study on interpretations of Ministry of Foreign Affairs crisis experts
- course
- SKOM12 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- crisis communication, internal communication, Rhetorical Arena Theory, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, qualitative research
- language
- English
- id
- 9204468
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-23 13:41:21
- date last changed
- 2025-06-23 13:41:21
@misc{9204468, abstract = {{This thesis explores the positioning of internal crisis communication in relation to external communication, specifically within the context of governmental crisis response. Guided by the case of the Lebanon crisis in 2024, this study investigates how crisis experts from a European Ministry of Foreign Affairs interpret internal communication across the three phases of crises, drawing on the Rhetorical Arena Theory. Through thirteen semi-structured interviews with professionals from the communications, consular, and crisis coordination departments, this research identifies how internal and external strategies interact, overlap, and evolve throughout crisis stages. The performed thematic analysis revealed three core insights: (1.) Internal and external communication strategies are symbiotic, porous, and adapted towards the stakeholder landscape; (2.) Sub-arena dynamics within the rhetorical arena are shaped by the intensity, direction, and tone of stakeholder voices; (3.) Internal communication shifts in function and visibility across crisis phases. By focusing on the public crisis communication domain and incorporating internal perspectives, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of communicative complexity and advocates for more nuanced integration of internal voices in crisis communication strategy development.}}, author = {{Tilanus, Cathelijne Dirk Iréne Maria}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{The trembling arena of rhetorics during crises: How internal communication is positioned in relation to the external dimension}}, year = {{2025}}, }