Former Fellow

Olesia Zvezdova, Ph.D.

Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University (Mykolaiv, Ukraine)

Research project title: Russian psychological warfare against Ukraine

Research Abstract:
The events, currently taking place in the world, indicate that population of Europe continent is on a verge of transformations in the field of international security, including psychological security as well. During only previous decade we were witnesses of wide Russian information warfare against Ukraine, which has a destructive and destabilizing effect on societies in general and on the psyche of everyone in particular.

Throughout the Russian-Ukrainian hybrid war (since 2014), Russian Federation actively continues to use different psychological mechanisms of influence on the population of Ukraine, European Union and even its own people, with only difference that one of these influences aimed at discrediting of authorities in a country, undermining an authority of the military structures (Ukraine), the others – at manipulation of collective consciousness and outright chantage (EU countries) and – intimidation and formation in minds of the population figure of an ancient and irreconcilable enemy (Russia). Moreover, research project considers the problematic of separatism and psychological influence of patron-state on population of non-recognized territory. Research could be interesting for different specialists, because it is based on interdisciplinary (at least international relations and psychology) principles.

  • Biografische Angaben

    Olesia Zvezdova is a guest researcher at Goethe University Frankfurt. She holds two Master`s Diploma in International relations (2010), in Psychology (2023) and PhD in Political Science (specification - political problems of international systems and global development). She has been lecturing at Black Sea National University (Ukraine) for six years and predominantly was engaged in lecturing such courses as "Geopolitics" and "Russian Foreign Policy". In 2022 she was forced to move to Germany because of war.
  • Publikationen

    Zvezdova, O. (2020). Tools for promoting European values in the context of civil servants training. Problems and process of reforming public administration education in Ukraine and EU countries. Wloclawek, Poland. December 2-13. Voronkova, V., Zvezdova, O. (2022). Theoretical and practical aspects of modern politics: challenges and reformatting of the global world. Cuestiones Políticas, 40 (75). https://doi.org/10.46398/cuestpol.4075.32 Zvezdova, O. (2023). Psychological warfare as a hybrid threat to the modern system of international security. Acta de Historia & Politica: Saeculum XXI, 5. https://doi.org/10.26693/ahpsxxi2023.05.063 Zvezdova, O. (2023). “Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic”: Genesis of Issue and Influence on the International Relations. Acta De Historia & Politica: Saeculum XXI, 2. https://doi.org/10.26693/ahpsxxi2023.si.005

News from the research center

Event
20.04.2026 | Brussels

Militärische KI verantwortungsvoll nutzen und Regulierung neu denken

Panel Discussion, Lecture

Künstliche Intelligenz findet im Militär immer breiteren Einsatz, von Logistik und Training über Missionsplanung und Zielidentifikation bis hin zu autonomen Waffensystemen. Gleichzeitig wächst die Bedeutung von Mikroprozessoren immer stärker, der Zugang zu seltenen Erden und Chips wird zur zentralen Ressource. KI kann das Kampfgeschehen beschleunigen und damit destabilisierend wirken. Der Wettlauf um neue Fähigkeiten birgt jedoch auch Eskalationsrisiken. Wir laden Sie ein, diese Themen im nächsten Crisis Talk gemeinsam mit unseren hochkarätigen Podiumsgästen zu diskutieren.

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Event
28./29.05.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Global Health Justice: Principles and Practice

Conference

Following the research focus of the Global Health Justice Postdoctoral Programme, the "Global Health Justice: Principles and Practice" conference places a particular emphasis on themes such as the human right to health, political activism and health justice issues, and problems of structural injustice and vulnerable populations in health care. Keynote lectures by Jonathan Wolff and Kanchana Mahadevan.

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Publication
26.03.2026 | Monograph

The Cambridge History of Latin American Law in Global Perspective

Duve, Thomas; Herzog, Tamar (eds.): The Cambridge History of Latin American Law in Global Perspective, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024 (portugiesisch 2025; spanisch 2026).

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Publication
26.03.2026 | Monograph

Rechtsgeschichte des frühneuzeitlichen Hispanoamerika

Duve, Thomas; Egío, José Luis  (2023): Rechtsgeschichte des frühneuzeitlichen Hispanoamerika, Berlin: De Gruyter, 2023.

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Event
18.04.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Das Prinzip Donald Trump und die Verrohung der Welt

Panel Discussion, Lecture

Ein neuer Politikstil macht international Karriere. Er ist gekennzeichnet von Vulgarität, Verrohung und erklärter Rechtsfeindschaft. Machtinteressen werden nicht mehr juristisch bemäntelt. Stattdessen wird das angebliche Recht des Stärkeren zur Staatsdoktrin gemacht – innenpolitisch wie außenpolitisch. Treibende Kraft hinter dieser Verrohung der politischen Sitten ist ein US-Präsident, der nicht nur die amerikanische Gesellschaft und Kultur, sondern auch die globale Ordnung nach seinen Vorstellungen und Interessen umgestaltet. Die Römerberggespräche wollen diesen Politikstil verstehen.

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Event
14.07.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Democracy Over Time and the Climate Crisis

Lecture Series

Vortrag von Anja Karnein (Binghamton). Die Vortragsreihe untersucht Fragen der Klimakrise als Herausforderungen für demokratische Gesellschaften und konzentriert sich auf Themen wie politische Legitimität, Widerstand gegen fossile Brennstoffe und die Interessen künftiger Generationen. Sie wird organisiert von Prof. Dr. Darrel Moellendorf und Dr. Lukas Sparenborg.

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Event
10.06.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Capital Investment, Inequality, and State Power in a Time of Climate Emergency

Lecture, Lecture Series

The lecture series examines questions of the climate crisis as challenges for democratic
societies and focuses on issues of political legitimacy, fossil fuel resistance, and the interests
of future generations.

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Event
13.05.2026 | Frankfurt am Main

Failed States and Cloudy skies: Tipping Points, Overshoot and Permanent Emergency, after America

Lecture Series

The lecture series examines questions of the climate crisis as challenges for democratic
societies and focuses on issues of political legitimacy, fossil fuel resistance, and the interests
of future generations.

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Event
22.04.2026

Political Legitimacy, Authoritarianism, and Climate Change

Lecture, Lecture Series

Lecture by Ross Mittiga (SOAS London). The lecture series examines questions of the climate crisis as challenges for democratic societies and focuses on issues of political legitimacy, fossil fuel resistance, and the interests of future generations. It is organized by Prof. Dr. Darrel Moellendorf and Dr. Lukas Sparenborg.

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