Hanken researcher awarded Research Council of Finland fellowship for project on ethical crisis response

The project REALS – Relational Ethics and Affective/Lived Security: Care, Resilience and Embodiment in Times of Crisis, explores how security is organised when formal systems are under strain, such as in times of war, disaster, or large-scale societal disruption.

Bringing together perspectives from organisation studies, ethics of care, and arts-based research, the project extends understandings of security as purely institutional or technical. 

“We see security as something shaped by people’s relationships, emotions, and lived experiences. A central focus is how care, trust, and shared responsibility emerge in everyday practices when communities respond to crisis situations”, says Anna Dziuba.

The research draws on fieldwork conducted in Ukraine, including observations of artist-led initiatives and interviews with emergency responders, humanitarian actors, and members of civil society. 

”The fieldwork gives us insight into how communities organise support, leadership, and recovery under extreme conditions”, Dziuba continues.

A key outcome of the project will be the development of a model that highlights the importance of care, trust, and shared responsibility, complementing existing approaches to security organising. The aim is to promote more humane and ethical responses to crises, helping to build inclusive and resilient societies.

In addition to the project leader, the REALS project will include a doctoral researcher and a research assistant, forming a small research team working throughout the funding period.