When communication fails : asymmetric ties in communication process between the executive bodies of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Finland
CHAYNIKOVA, KSENIA (2013)
2013
Master's Programme in International Relations CBU
Johtamiskorkeakoulu - School of Management
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2013-12-13
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201312181753
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201312181753
Tiivistelmä
The thesis introduces asymmetric ties concept as a type of interstate communication and examines its components. Asymmetric ties as a notion stands for direct communication process which occurs between executive bodies of lower level (local or regional) from one country with executive bodes of the state level in another country. The purpose of the thesis is to check the existence and practical usage of the asymmetric ties between Finnish and Russian executive bodies and reveal the possible obstacles that the communication process is facing at different stages.
An effort to combine theories of communication with organizational theories was made. Harold Laswell’s theory of 5 components of communication was taken as a ground along with “Murphy’s law” communication research of Osmo Wiio. Theory of organization refers to Max Weber and Howard Greenbaum ideal bureaucratic organizations as well as to organic organizations described by Donaldson. Asymmetric ties were categorized as a part of interstate cooperation in order to confront their possible categorization as a part of cross-border cooperation.
Most different system design introduced by Giovanni Sartori was used in order to dwell upon differences and similarities between Russia and Finland; ladder of abstraction-generalization was used to illustrate the symmetric ties concept. The primary data for the research comprises a number of interviews conducted from March 2013 till May 2013 which helped to reveal the actual communication procedures within and between the closed executive bodies of Finland and Russia.
The findings have shown that asymmetric ties do exist in practice but there are many cases of failure due to a number of reasons. However, once established direct communication process between offices is considered as a template for future collaborations.
An effort to combine theories of communication with organizational theories was made. Harold Laswell’s theory of 5 components of communication was taken as a ground along with “Murphy’s law” communication research of Osmo Wiio. Theory of organization refers to Max Weber and Howard Greenbaum ideal bureaucratic organizations as well as to organic organizations described by Donaldson. Asymmetric ties were categorized as a part of interstate cooperation in order to confront their possible categorization as a part of cross-border cooperation.
Most different system design introduced by Giovanni Sartori was used in order to dwell upon differences and similarities between Russia and Finland; ladder of abstraction-generalization was used to illustrate the symmetric ties concept. The primary data for the research comprises a number of interviews conducted from March 2013 till May 2013 which helped to reveal the actual communication procedures within and between the closed executive bodies of Finland and Russia.
The findings have shown that asymmetric ties do exist in practice but there are many cases of failure due to a number of reasons. However, once established direct communication process between offices is considered as a template for future collaborations.