The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on Ukrainian Studies

The Russia-Ukraine War had far-reaching implications for the development of East European Studies and in particular Ukrainian Studies in North America. In recent months, many departments in Slavic Languages and Literature have begun to re-examine their programming and consider the decolonization of Slavic Studies. Anthropologists drew on their ethnographic understanding of the cultural terrain to deepen our understanding of the sources, dynamics, and consequences of the war. Furthermore, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rekindled interest in East European politics and invigorated a debate over the explanatory power of international relations theories and the role of disinformation campaigns. This roundtable brings together scholars in anthropology, linguistics, literature, and political science to problematize and reflect upon ways in which the field of Ukrainian Studies has changed and shaped changes in Slavic Studies.