European University Viadrina

Today, a variety of actors, including traditional journalists, activists, and NGO workers, are using digital media and data to investigate emerging injustices, especially in the context of crises and wars. The Baltic States find themselves under hybrid forms of attack and other forms of injustice that emerge as a consequence of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Using 17 semi-structured interviews and short-term fieldwork with investigative practitioners from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, we analyse how investigative practitioners perceive the changes and implications in their practices since Russia’s full-scale invasion. We argue that the full-scale invasion has significantly changed the work of investigative practitioners. We identify the emergence of pervasive threat perceptions, new investigative themes and data practices, and the reconfiguration of collaborative practices among investigative practitioners. They show how investigative practices in the Baltics today not only analyse and counter injustices, but also need to adapt to changing perceptions of security and foreign influence to become, we argue, “resilient investigative practices”. Paradoxically, investigative practitioners also engage in what we conceptualise as “tactical avoidance”, i.e. a conscious trade-off and a form of resilience through the suppression of painful, uncomfortable knowledge to carry out their work. With our research, we contribute to the dynamic digital war and media studies by bringing an empirical study of situated investigative practices from a geopolitically charged region into transnational discussions, furthering research on the subjects of securitisation, cooperation, and tactical avoidance in times of war.

Abstract Norms research has become an established subfield in International Relations (IR). In this introduction to the Oxford Handbook on Norms Research in International Relations, the volume editors provide a brief overview of the study of norms, focusing on three different forms of normative change: through emergence, through norm violation or breach, and through interpretation and contestation. Change is ever present. Norms are understood as works in progress, which requires the study of a complicated set of actors across the international, transnational, and domestic levels. Individual norms themselves exist within wider structures, whether defined as norm clusters, bundles, or regimes. This leads to three enduring questions for norm research: first, the processes by which norms emerge, change or disappear, on the one hand, and by which they are contested, violated, diffused, or replaced on the other; second, the agency of actors at sites on the macro-, meso-, or micro-scale of global order, and who engages with these processes; and third, the embeddedness or interaction of norms with other pre-existing norms and structures, such as the prevailing rules of engagement and clusters of normative meaning.

Purpose This study investigates the types of information that influence trading volume and stock returns of Manchester United. The study first examines the impact of sport-related information, both expected and unexpected, through a traditional news model. The reversed news model is designed to examine the impact of corporate governance-related information on stock market performance. Design/methodology/approach The study analyzes matches played across 12 seasons (2012/13–2023/24). Daily stock returns and trading volumes are examined alongside match results that are controlled for ex-ante expectations through betting odds. In the traditional news model, the matches are further categorized by types, venues, decisiveness, and stages of competition. The reversed news model investigates the 15 largest abnormal returns in absolute terms and identifies the impacts of company-specific corporate governance-related information. Findings Trading volume increases significantly after matches, where the highest magnitude is observed following defeats. The sentiment effect could be confirmed partially with significant asymmetric negative effects after losses and draws varying with venue, type, and stages of competitions. After controlling for expectations, the EMH is partially confirmed with negative impacts after unexpected losses and draws, and a positive reaction after unexpected wins. The findings from the reversed news model reveal that corporate governance-related company-specific announcements significantly determine the abnormal stock returns. Specifically, news about potential bidders during the process of selling the club resulted in the largest abnormal returns. Originality/value This study makes a comprehensive comparison of the impacts of sport-related and corporate governance-related information on the stock returns of Manchester United, which possesses a unique market status and global profile. The study makes concrete methodological contributions. Furthermore, it provides new insights into investor behavior and demonstrates the importance of transparency and proactive communication strategies when dealing with corporate governance announcements.

Recent evidence-based guidelines recommend adjuvant therapy following surgery for most patients with WHO grade 2 and 3 gliomas. However, deviations from these recommendations are frequently observed in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate patterns of postoperative management across Germany, using multicentre registry data from certified neuro-oncology centres. We analysed data from the ongoing multicentre registry study, which prospectively collects adult patients with IDH-mutant WHO grade 2 and 3 diffuse gliomas. Patients treated at 14 certified neuro-oncology centres were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with observation, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. We assessed concordance between guideline recommendations and actual treatment during the first year after surgery. A total of 217 patients with astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma were included, of whom 169 (78%) had WHO grade 2 tumours. Observation alone was selected in 90 (53%) patients with grade 2 tumours. Gross total resection was independently associated with observation (OR 0.10; 95% CI, 0.04–0.22; p < 0.001). In patients aged ≥ 40 years, adjuvant treatment decisions deviated from current guidelines (OR 3.15; 95% CI, 1.70–5.95; p = 0.001), although age itself was not an independent predictor of treatment choice in multivariate models. The presence of residual tumour after surgery was the principal determinant of postoperative management in patients with WHO grade 2 gliomas. Age ≥ 40 years did not independently influence clinical decision-making. These findings highlight a gap between guidelines and real-world practice and underscore the need for more flexible, individualised treatment frameworks.