Anna Chebotarova is a sociologist and a doctoral research fellow at the Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages (ILOS) at the University of Oslo. In her presentation, she will reflect upon the transformations of Ukraine's ethnocultural diversity and the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on inter-ethnic relations. As Ukrainian citizens of diverse backgrounds unite in opposition to Russian military aggression, the nationalizing role of the Ukrainian state is growing. At the same time, common Ukrainian identity is increasingly viewed through the civic lens, and boundaries between ethnic identities become increasingly blurred.
Michael Gentile is professor of human geography at the University of Oslo. In his talk, he will discuss the contours, contents and evolution of regional, sub-regional and supra-regional identities in the Donbas/Pryazovia regions of Ukraine that have been on the frontlines of the Russo-Ukrainian war for a decade, and the Donbas in particular figures prominently within Russian narratives of Ukrainian non-Ukrainianness. He will analyze the changes that have occurred over the past few years, as well as the contentious politics associated with these changes.
