The war in Ukraine
- Submission status
- Open
- Submission deadline
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
The territories encompassed by modern Ukraine have experienced complex patterns of governance and influence over centuries, including periods under various empires and powers.
During the Russian Empire's expansion, large sections of modern Ukraine came under Russian control, with the Ukrainian language and culture facing restrictions and suppression. Following the Russian Revolution, Ukraine briefly declared independence before being incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. A defining moment came in 1932-33 when Soviet policies, notably Stalinist collectivisation, resulted in the Holodomor, a mass famine that killed millions of Ukrainians. Over the course of the remainder of the twentieth century, Ukraine experienced both russification policies and periods of limited cultural autonomy.
In 1991, Ukraine declared independence following the fall of the Soviet Union. The post-Soviet period that followed was defined by efforts to manage and balance relationships with Russia and the West, while grappling with internal divisions arising from issues of national identity and geopolitical orientation. Later, significant tensions arose during the 2004 Orange Revolution and the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests, which led to the removal of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.
In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and threw its weight behind pro-Russian separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. This catalysed a severe deterioration in relations between the two countries.
The subsequent larger-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022 marked a major escalation of the initial 2014 annexation, resulting in widespread destruction, casualties in the tens of thousands, and the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. The Putin government categorised its actions as a ‘special military operation’ aimed at de-nazification.
We invite scholarship that considers this conflict and its wider context from various vantage points — economic, historical, sociological, cultural and geopolitical.
Key themes can include:
- Russia’s evolving relationship with former Soviet States
- Geopolitical perspectives on Russia’s evolving place on the world stage
- The role of international institutions (e.g., NATO, etc.) and deterrents (e.g., nuclear deterrence)
- The future of post-Cold War security arrangements
- The role of propaganda, disinformation and social media
- Historical memory and shared national stories
- Migration, refugee movements and implications for European demographics
- Economic perspectives on sanctions, global energy markets, international trade, reconstruction and development
- National and cultural identities in the context of the conflict
- Western positions on the conflict and public opinion
- Conflict resolution, transitional justice mechanisms, and post-conflict reconciliation strategies
- Social and cultural perspectives (e.g., education, youth, families, social cohesion, gender, etc.)
- Violence and modern warfare
- Citizen journalism during conflict and war
