Ukraine, Russia and Europe: Long Term Perspectives
At the moment of writing, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is more than halfway through its third year. The consequences of this conflict, for Central and Eastern Europe and the international community, are becoming increasingly clear. This war on the continent’s eastern periphery asks a number of fundamental questions of Europeans, ranging from the future of international security to the role of the European Union, and daily life amidst a brutal war. Moreover, the unexpected launch of what should have been, with the benefit of hindsight, a predictable crisis poses significant questions regarding the state of the study of Central and Eastern Europe and its social position.
The Groningen Institute for Central and Eastern European Studies (GICEES) would like to cordially invite you to attend an engaging and thought-provoking conference on these and other matters, taking place in Groningen on the 7th and 8th of November. In addition to our keynote speakers Mart de Kruif, former commander of the Dutch armed forces, and Katja Tolstaja, Theologian Laureate of the Netherlands, the conference will feature contributions by no fewer than 34 other speakers, spread out across two days. The topics discussed are manifold, from the history of Ukrainian statehood to the state of the Russian economy, and from the future of the European project in the East to the PVV’s understanding of Russia, to name but a few.
The nature of the conference is dual: the first part will take place on Thursday, 7 November, and is entitled ‘Oekraïne en Nederland: Onontdekte beeldvorming en relaties’. The language of this day’s contributions will be Dutch. The topics to be discussed are as varied as they are engaging, ranging from general exploration and presentations of current research to podcasts and memory projects. The plenary sessions and subsequent panel discussions will take place in Harmony Building and the University Library, starting at 12:30 and concluding at 17:30. The full programme can be found on our website.
The second part of the conference takes place on Friday 8 November, and bears the title Ukraine, Russia and Europe: Long Term Perspectives. The contributions for this part will be delivered in English. The opening address, delivered by the Dutch Ambassador in Kyiv, as well as both keynote addresses, will take place in the Mennonite Church (Doopsgezinde Kerk, Oude Boteringestraat 33). These are followed by a lunch break. Afterwards, three break out sessions are planned, taking place in said church as well as in the University Library. These three sessions, lasting from 13:30 until 16:30, each have their own theme, being politics; economics; and history, culture, and science. The day, and indeed the conference, will wrap up with a plenary session at 17:00. The full programme can be found here.
If this has sparked your interest and curiosity, and how could it not, attending one or both days of the conference requires signing up through our online sign-up sheet. The two conference days can be attended separately - should you wish to attend both days, you will need to sign up for both separately.
To register your attendance for the events of the 7th of November, please follow this link or visit our website at https://nlua.gimoes.nl/node/39. Signing up for the 8th of November can be done here, or by visiting https://conference.gimoes.nl/node/40.
