17-18 April 2024 Noluthando Mncwango & Andiswa

Transcript:17-18 April 2024 Noluthando Mncwango & Andiswa:
17-18 April 2024 Noluthando Mncwango & Andiswa Matyolo African War Lab, University of Johannesburg Influencers, crisis communication and mitigation: Russia-Ukraine and South Africa v Israel as case studies Overview of Presentation 18/04/2024 African War Lab (Politics and International Relations), University of Johannesburg 2 Significance of the research Case Studies: Russia-Ukraine War Israel-Palestine War & South Africa’s involvement Findings Conclusion Significance of the research The use of modern day technology in crisis communication and mitigation (social media) Notable movement in communication from state officials and news outlets to netizens Netizens’ participation in humanitarian efforts (hashtags, crisis communication & mitigation) Additionally, it highlights the admissibility of social media evidence in crisis communication and mitigation strategies 18/04/2024 African War Lab (Politics and International Relations), University of Johannesburg 3 CASE STUDY 1: Russia-Ukraine war Tensions began in the 1990s following Ukraine’s independence Ukraine had ethnic, religious and linguistic division in its regions e.g Crimea (believed it belonged to Russia) Annexture of Crimea in 2014 began conflict, but the war escalated in 2022 following the invasion by Russia 18/04/2024 African War Lab (Politics and International Relations), University of Johannesburg 4 Russia-Ukraine (Actors Intervention) State Actors 16 Hour talk in 2015 between Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia for ceasefire (crisis mitigation) = unsuccessful Sanctions on Russia by the U.S.A Non-State Actors (Humanitarian efforts) Influencers/Celebrities - Miley Cyrus (share messages and standings on war) - shared with over 40 million followers on X Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid, etc. 18/04/2024 African War Lab (Politics and International Relations), University of Johannesburg 5 Russia-Ukraine (Actors Intervention) - Cont Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively (1 million) - for humanitarian efforts Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher donated over $20 million and opened a GoFundMe account which they surpassed their goal of 30 million in through their fans - in two weeks Hashtags - provide information, stimulate conversations. #ukraine #russia #standingwithUkraine Are a form of movement and are started by opinion leaders 18/04/2024 African War Lab (Politics and International Relations), University of Johannesburg 6 Russia-Ukraine (Actors Intervention) - Cont Hashtags provide information on topics such as the Ukraine-Russia war Audience Audience online interact through reactions and donations Influenced by celebrities and social media influencers they admire E.g Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher’s successful GoFundMe Compaign 18/04/2024 African War Lab (Politics and International Relations), University of Johannesburg 7 CASE STUDY 2: SOUTH AFRICA V ISRAEL South Africa’s application for ICJ jurisdiction in