Summer school 'Ukraine and the challenges of nationhood, individuality and survival'

The purpose of this multi-disciplinary Summer School is to examine different aspects of Ukraine’s society and societal dynamics through in-depth study of four topics: identity, culture and ‘culture wars’; economic-ecological dynamics; the ‘humanitarian frontline’; and formal and informal governance.

Focus and goals

The open invasion of Ukraine by the Russian armed forces set off the largest armed conflict and multi-dimensional crisis on the European continent since the implosion of Yugoslavia and the wars in the former Yugoslav space in the 1990s. The current situation in Ukraine and its outcomes will not only shape the very nature of the country and its society but also those of Europe in general. The  invasion of 24 February 2022, however, was preceded all the way back to the early 2000s by various events, critical shifts and turning points which were formative for both the country and its society. The purpose of this multi-disciplinary Summer School is not only to provide a deeper understanding beyond the clichés of the conflict and the societies and environments involved. It is also to learn participants how to approach these if they are to work with Ukraine in later professional environments or other capacities. Content- and approach-wise, the focus of this event is Ukraine’s society and societal dynamics rather than the grand geopolitics. Four aspects, each organised in a thematic  day, will be examined in-depth through the input of nine scholars who worked extensively on, and often are from, Ukraine: identity, culture and ‘culture wars’; economic-ecological dynamics; the ‘humanitarian frontline’; and formal and informal governance.

Programme

A detailed overview of the programme can be found in the programme folder.