Tag: fieldwork

Cameron Hunter undertakes fieldwork in Taiwan

Dr Cameron Hunter recently returned from several weeks of fieldwork in Taiwan, under the auspices of the RITUAL DETERRENCE project. The data collected supports several of his ongoing research work packages and opened up new possibilities for analysis.

Taiwan is the main target of the People’s Republic of China’s 21st strategic goals for the 21st century. Utilising a mixture of data collection methods, Dr Hunter’s research sought to clarify the character of China’s deterrence/coercion practices in, around, and over Taiwan. This included direct and participant observation of daily life in Taiwan, particularly during Chinese military drills; interviews with experts and practitioners; social media data, and fieldwork on the “red beaches” likely to be used in the event of a Chinese invasion.

Dr Hunter would like to thank all of the participants and colleagues in Taiwan that assisted during the fieldwork, and for their continuing support.

Maria Mälksoo participated at the International Expert Group on Peace for Ukraine meetings in Tokyo

Prof. Mälksoo participated at the International Expert Group on Peace for Ukraine meetings in Tokyo, Japan on 26-29 January 2026. The meetings were held at Keio University, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Institute of International Affairs, National Institute of Defense Studies, and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The focus of the working group meeting was on the questions of occupied territories, justice for Ukraine and accountability for Russia.

 

 

Mariia Vladymyrova visits the Marshall Center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

On March 23-25, 2025, Mariia Vladymyrova visited the George C. Marshall European Center For Security Studies where she presented her ongoing dissertation project to the faculty. She shared her preliminary insights into the activities of Russian fishing and research vessels as deterrence by proxy in the European High North. The visit also provided an opportunity to engage with faculty experts and discuss Russian military strategy and deterrence dynamics in Europe.

Mariia Vladymyrova at the Baltic Defence College

Between March 3 and March 21, Mariia Vladymyrova visited the Baltic Defence College, where she participated in the institution’s flagship event, the Annual Russia Conference.

During her stay, Mariia presented her research on the ritualization of Russian naval exercises in the Baltic Sea (2022–2024) to the faculty. She also gained insights into the College’s teaching methods and ongoing research. Additionally, the visit enriched the empirical foundation of her study, as she conducted interviews with academics, officials, and military representatives from Estonia.