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What unites Ukrainians?

Ukraine has long been portrayed as a divided country, split along linguistic, ethnic and historical lines. However, following the Euromaidan revolution, several studies have shown the strength of civic identity in Ukraine, and that the regional variability of social attitudes is far more nuanced than the supposed east-west dichotomy.

The project “Knowledge Exchange and Academic Cultures in the Humanities. Europe and the Black Sea Region” (KEAS-BSR) attempts to systematically investigate knowledge and cultural exchanges between the BSR and Western Europe from the late 18th century to the present theoretical and to establish methodological approaches with the potential of new pathways for future research and in its foregrounding of gender aspects.

Nataliya Borys wrote a report on the last KEAS-BSR conference “Knowledge and ideological frontlines. Europe and the Black Sea region after World War II”,  Blagoevgrad University, Bulgaria, 24 April 2020 on the Blog The Soviet History Lab 

In her latest book chapter Regionalism in Ukraine: Historic Evolution, Regional Claim-Making, and Centre–Periphery Conflict Resolution  Oksana Myshlovska contributes to the following debate: Recently, scholars have been occupied with explaining why the previous phases of contention in Ukraine had unfolded in a non-violent manner, while the 2013–2014 contention cycle turned into a violent conflict. The chapter aims to make several contributions. First, it analyzes identity and regional cleavages in Ukraine and the evolution and dynamics of claim-making and center-periphery contention related to them in different regions. Second, it studies the non-violent forms of contention in Ukraine from the late 1980s until the eruption of violent conflict in 2014. The findings are consistent with theories of conflict that posit that non-violent forms of conflict precede escalation into violent conflict.

Shelest, Hanna/ Rabinovych, Maryna (eds): Decentralization, Regional Diversity, and Conflict. The Case of Ukraine, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham 2020.

Drawing on quantitative data drawn from a range of trials Kateryna Dysa first describes the ideological background of the tribunals based on works written by priests and theologians that reflect attitudes toward the devil and witches. The main focus of her work, however, is the process leading to witchcraft accusations. From the stories of participants of the trials she shows what led people to enunciate first suspicions then accusations of witchcraft. Finally, she presents a microhistory from one Volhynian village, comparing attitudes toward two “female crimes” in the Ukrainian courts.

The study is based on archival research including witch trials transcripts. Dysa approaches the trials as indications of belief and practice, attempting to understand the actors involved rather than dismiss or condemn them. She takes care to situate early modern Ukrainian witchcraft and its accompanying trials in a broader European context, with comparisons to some African cases as well.

Shadows of Empires. Imperial Legacies and Mythologies in East Central Europe

Transregional Academy organized by Prisma Ukraïna – Research Network Eastern Europe in cooperation with CAS Centre for Advanced Study Sofia, Center for Governance and Culture in Europe, University St. Gallen, and the German Historical Institute Warsaw

14-21 September, 2020, Sofia, Bulgaria

More information and the CfA

The Centre for Ukrainian Studies at the Ivan Franko University in L’viv is calling for application for a summerschool, which offers you to:

• enrich your knowledge of Ukrainian through an intensive class using modern teaching;
• study in small groups (under 7 people) with qualified teachers of Ukrainian as a foreign language;
• receive a certificate grading the level of your Ukrainian in correspondence with the CEFR scale;
• widen your knowledge of Ukraine through lectures in history, economics, culture, politics and literature;
• travel to the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains and other picturesque destinations in Western Ukraine;
• enjoy the unforgettable atmosphere of Lviv and experience true Ukrainian hospitality;
• get a credit (University Credits) (in case of an agreement on cooperation with Ivan Franko National University in Lviv).

Apply until the 25 of June 2020!

How can peace and conflict studies contribute to understanding conflict dynamics in Ukraine? What are the opportunities for conflict settlement in Ukraine through dialogue at the local, national and international levels? What obstacles do these efforts face?

The 2020 swisspeace summer school provides an overview of current academic and policy debates on conflict resolution, dialogue and peacebuilding and critically reflects on their relevance for the Ukraine context. Following an introduction to peace and conflict theories and the architecture of international peacebuilding, participants will analyze the situation in Ukraine and reflect on opportunities and pitfalls for dialogue and conflict settlement in the current context.

More information on the flyer:

The topic of this issue is the relations between Russia and Ukraine. Firstly, André Härtel discusses recent developments in the Donbas conflict. He posits that as of yet there is no clear path forward as Ukrainian president Zelensky is still formulating policies, Russia seems to benefit from the status quo, and the West seems more focused on other issue. Secondly, Julia Kusznir analyses the progress of the ongoing negotiations for a new gas transit contract between Ukraine and Russia. Different interests, viewpoints and hurdles have so far prevented the signing of a new treaty.

The Berlin-based Forum Transregionale Studien invites scholars to apply for a three-month Visiting Fellowship in 2020 within the framework of the research program Prisma Ukraïna – Research Network Eastern Europe. Location: Berlin / Closing date: January 31, 2020

Read the report of Mykhailo Minakov and Matt Rojansky on Focus Ukraine, the blog of the Kennan Institute:

The Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland and the Université de Fribourg kindly invites you to the podium discussion “Ukraine – Switzerland: A Century of Mutual Diplomatic Presence”.

Ukrainian and Swiss historians and diplomats will touch upon both historical and contemporary events of Ukraine-Switzerland bilateral relations. The discussion will help verifying perspectives as well as facilitating contacts between scientists of both countries.

The curator of the Lavra Museum of Historical Treasures Evgenija Velychko helds a talk about the North Pontic’s Antiquities in the Museums and Collections of Kyiv. Find all details of the event at the University of Lausanne here:

Ukrainian-as-a-foreign-language program in Ukraine

Each day of the Program consists of language classes, individual tutoring, workshops or lectures and excursions – as well as a unique two-week Carpathian program at the beginning of our School. University ECTS credits can be received on completion of the course.

Summer program

Spring/Fall program

Conférence donnée par le prof. Andreas Kappeler : Le « grand frère » et sa « petite sœur », les relations russo-ukrainiennes à travers les siècles

Mardi 29 octobre 2019 à 18h15 dans la salle M2160 à Uni-Mail

Cooperation of the University of Bern with the EDA and DEZA and our URIS Fellow Mykhailo Minakov:

Further information to this exciting event at the Soviet history research lab:

Read the comment of our first URIS-fellow Georgiy Kasianov about the reason and consequences of the dismissal of the head of the Ukrainian Institut of National Memory on Carnegie Moscow Center:

Read the analysis from our URIS fellow Georgy Kasianov:

26.07.2019

HSG Russia and Its Neighbourhood Discussion Series kindly invite you to attend the workshop on Geopolitics and Soft Power in Eastern Europe on June 24. This event brings a diverse group of speakers from the non-governmental sector, journalism, and academia in cross-disciplinary conversation over propaganda, geopolitics, religion, and nationalism.

The Center for Eastern European Studies has announced its workshop on “Ukraine between Church Canons and the Canons of War (2018–2019)”.

Flyer and abstract

How does war transform societies? How does war close off and create opportunities? How does war end? How are wars “made” and undone and by whom?

Apply for the Tenth International Social Science Summer School in Ukraine

For more information and the application form: 

Am Leibniz-Institut für Ost- und Südosteuropaforschung Regensburg (IOS) findet vom  11.-15. März 2019 eine Winterschule zu Geschichte, Wirtschaft, Literatur und Politik in der Ukraine statt.

Das Programm und Informationen der Winterschule finden Sie hier: https://www.ios-regensburg.de/winterschule-ukraine.html

Die Gemeinschaft für studentischen Austausch in Mittel- und Osteuropa (GFPS) e. V. organisiert vom 16.-30. März einen Tandemsprachkurs in den Transkarpaten.

Weitere Informationen zu dem beliebten Sprachkurs unter: https://www.gfps.org/termine/2019/deutsch-ukrainische-sprachwerkstatt