Business in war and peace: firms, violent conflict, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Student thesis: Doctoral ThesisDoctor of Philosophy

Abstract

This thesis explores how large firms navigate the challenges of violent interstate conflict, based on interviews with business leaders operating in Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion. It examines how companies engage with state and non-state actors, adapt to rapidly shifting institutional conditions, and manage resource and reputational risks. The findings offer new insights into firm behaviour under extreme conditions, highlighting limitations in conventional management theories and contributing to a deeper understanding of business strategy and resilience in war-affected environments.


Thesis is under embargo until 31 December 2028.
Date of AwardDec 2025
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Queen's University Belfast
SupervisorKieran Conroy (Supervisor) & Laura Steele (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Violent conflict
  • firm strategy
  • Ukraine
  • business in war
  • institutional disruption
  • corporate response
  • resilience
  • interstate conflict
  • crisis management
  • organizational behaviour
  • business and peace

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