Frames of conflict / conflict of frames: A frame analysis of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Italian press and politics

Abstract

Russia’s war on Ukraine had a major political and media resonance in Europe. By relying on frame analysis, this article investigates the main narratives characterizing the Italian public debate in the first four months of hostilities. It addresses two major arenas: journalism – focusing on four Italian newspapers; and politics – focusing on parliamentary records and the Twitter accounts of Italian political leaders. The article shows that the debate was heterogeneous and polarized. It identifies five major frames on the causes and consequences of the conflict, varying in prominence between and within the sources examined. These variations reflected not only their different orientations, but also how they intercepted deeper socio-political fractures at the national level. Overall, humanitarian and economic concerns were prioritized over more ideological reflections on the nature of the Russian invasion. Such findings contribute to the literature on framing and to the ongoing study of the impact of the war on European press and politics.