Digital resources in the Social Sciences and Humanities OpenEdition Our platforms OpenEdition Books OpenEdition Journals Hypotheses Calenda Libraries OpenEdition Freemium Follow us

Tagged: Ukraine

Dichotomy of Methodology Between the American and the French Approach in Frontier/Border Studies: Sloboda-Ukraine in the 18th Century

By Yuliia Koniva. Historical geography as an interdisciplinary discipline offers many of the conceptions for studying space and territory. In this essay, I want to address that there is no common ground on how to apply these conceptions. In every national historiography we can find plenty of historians who utilize the approaches of studying space or territory according to the research goals which were put forward in front of each scholar.

Ukrainian by Choice. Introduction to the Case of Ihor Kostetsky

By Tetiana Shestopalova. Ihor Kostetsky (1913–1983), a writer, editor, and publisher, was a huge enthusiast and promoter of Ukrainian culture. He belonged to a group of popular figures who identified as “Ukrainians by choice” in twentieth century Ukraine. This paper aims to reveal the factors behind Ihor Kostetsky’s Ukrainian choice and to characterize the peculiarities of his “volitional approach” to being a Ukrainian. Kostetsky’s self-identification as Ukrainian is not so much based on ethnicity as on the promotion of freedom of choice in national identity, which, in his opinion, was the embodiment of the struggle for independence.

War, Migration, Memory: Perspectives on Russia’s War Against Ukraine – An Introduction

How does war reshape collective memory, migration, and identity? Read a preview of Viktoriya Sereda and Andrii Portnov’s introduction to the recently published anthology “War, Migration, Memory: Perspectives on Russia’s War Against Ukraine” exploring the ongoing impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It delves into questions of belonging, historical memory, and societal transformation through essays written by Ukrainian scholars amid war and displacement.

Ukrainian Migrants’ Digital Connections to Family and Homeland during the War

By Taisiia Ratushna. Social media and digital platforms have considerably facilitated access to information for Ukrainian migrants. They actively use messengers and thematic groups to keep in touch with relatives, receive news, and discuss issues related to migration and integration in a new environment. Constantly monitoring news on social media allows Ukrainian migrants not only to stay informed about events in the country but also to maintain an emotional connection with home. However, constant engagement with Ukrainian news and communities may slow integration into host societies, as it reinforces emotional ties to their homeland.

Why Ukrainians Return: Motivations of Return Migration and its Implications

By Alexander Sicheneder. The decision to return for many Ukrainians is driven by a combination of emotional-political, social, and economic factors. To fully harness the potential of its diaspora for post-war recovery, Ukraine must adopt a holistic approach that addresses the economic and social needs of its returnees while cultivating a shared sense of purpose in the country’s reconstruction efforts. By doing so, Ukraine can turn the tragedy of displacement into an opportunity for renewal and growth.

Living in War: Why Ukrainian Women are Willing to Live in a Country With a Risk to their Lives

By Natalia Zaitseva-Chipak. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European countries have become home to millions of Ukrainians who have been forced to migrate because of the war. Some countries, in particular Germany, have launched unprecedented support and social protection programmes for internally displaced persons, offering housing, social benefits, language courses. Yet, a significant number of Ukrainian women choose to live in Ukraine. Some of them become internally displaced, while others live (and even return from abroad) in the frontline regions, which are constantly hit by missiles and drones.

Fragmented Lives: 10 Pieces of the Ukrainian Displacement Puzzle

By Lidia Kuzemska. We are quickly approaching the third anniversary of forced displacement from Ukraine due to the Russian full-scale invasion – a tragic benchmark no one wanted to believe in, let alone reach. I think it is time to reflect on how the situation related to the displacement of Ukrainians abroad has evolved during this period, and what trends can be expected in the near future. With this introductory post, I invite you to a conversation about the complex and entangled puzzle of Ukrainian displacement. At the heart of it are fragmented lives of 6.7mln Ukrainians currently displaced abroad and 3.7mln inside the country. Their lives are punctuated not only by the fact of displacement per se, but also by the changing policies and attitudes of their host and home countries and societies, by strained cross-border family dynamics and blurred future aspirations.

Soviet Weaponry on a Pedestal: Military Equipment Monuments in the Time of the Russian War in Ukraine – Part 2

By Denys Shatalov and Mykola Homanyuk. The essay examines the role of military equipment monuments in Ukraine, particularly after the Full-Scale Invasion in 2022. Monuments, such as tanks and armored vehicles placed on pedestals, often erected to honor Soviet war efforts or display Soviet power, have been repurposed or impacted by the ongoing conflict. The authors explore how this Soviet tradition of memorialization has been intertwined with modern warfare, using both historical analysis and field observations, focusing on the war’s influence on these symbolic structures.

Soviet Weaponry on a Pedestal: Military Equipment Monuments in the Time of the Russian War in Ukraine – Part 1

By Denys Shatalov and Mykola Homanyuk. The essay examines the role of military equipment monuments in Ukraine, particularly during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Monuments, such as tanks and armored vehicles placed on pedestals, often erected to honor Soviet war efforts or display Soviet power, have been repurposed or impacted by the ongoing conflict. The authors explore how this Soviet tradition of memorialization has been intertwined with modern warfare, using both historical analysis and field observations, focusing on the war’s influence on these symbolic structures.

An Angry Ukrainian Syndrome: Stereotypes About War, Peace, and Injustice

By Olena Komar. In this article, the author aims to demonstrate that a set of prejudices exists in Western countries against Ukrainians, which she terms the “Angry Ukrainian Syndrome” (similar to the “North African Syndrome”). This is a set of biases that have emerged through the way Ukrainians communicate about the war and how they meet the stereotypical expectations of Westerners. Furthermore, these prejudices are colonial, stemming from an inability to see Ukrainians as independent people, distinct from Russians.