Hybrid Format

Analyzing the Discourse around Ukrainian war in Germany: Understanding Variances in Public Stances

Guest: Kyoungin Baik (University of Sungkyunkwan)
Department of Digital and Computational Demography, February 14, 2024

Hybrid Talk Seminar, February 14, 2024 from 11am to 12pm (CEST)

Abstract

This study investigates the dynamics of public opinion surrounding the Ukrainian refugee crisis through an analysis of social media discourse on Twitter. Drawing upon a multidisciplinary framework, we examine the interplay of various factors influencing attitudes toward Ukrainian refugees, including temporal, geographic, socio-economic, and sentiment-related variables. Through this analysis, we seek to provide insights into the multifaceted nature of public opinion on the Ukrainian refugee crisis, contributing to a deeper understanding of the factors driving sentiment and stance formation in online discussions. Leveraging a dataset of tweets collected over the initial period of the war, we employ machine learning techniques to predict stances, sentiments and topics toward Ukrainian refugees. Our analysis reveals insights into the complexity of public attitudes, highlighting the role of geographic proximity, socio-economic conditions, and temporal factors in shaping perceptions of refugees. By providing empirical evidence and theoretical insights, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of public opinion formation in the context of refugee crises.

About the speaker

Kyoungin Baik is a bachelor student at the University of Sungkyunkwan. Currently, he is a guest researcher at Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research. His research interest lies in Machine Learning and Mathematical optimization.