Context:
In the context of Russian full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, national resilience of the country has been of vital importance. Ukrainian society demonstrated unprecedented mobilization across the country defending lives, dignity, rights of all citizens and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The mobilization of Ukrainian society and the tightening of existing horizontal networks have become a model of national resilience (a set of social processes, relations, and practices on the national, regional and communities’ level). It has forged adaptivity of the Ukrainian society to respond to current challenges, opened opportunities to overcome and transform these challenges, as well as strengthened social cohesion in the country.
Objectives:
The aim of the event is to voice a local perspective of Ukrainian civil society on the grass-root conflict-response practices and the ways to support them. Ukrainian researchers and dialogue facilitators will present their recent study “Responding to the Russian invasion from the grassroots – an overview of conflict response practices by the Ukrainian civil society from February 24th to May 31st, 2022”, which was prepared in the framework of activities of the National Platform for Resilience and Social Cohesion (please find more information about the National Platform initiative attached).
This research project offers the first systematic reflection on the local grassroots practices that spontaneously emerged in Ukraine as a response to the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022. As many international actors are currently strategizing on the best course of action to support Ukraine, there is a need to understand the logic, dynamics, and practice of these horizontal networks. The report surveys ten different grassroot practices – from non-violent resistance and negotiations with the Russian military to using of mediation and art by civil society – and offers analysis of their actors, activities, and the risks the practices were faced with. The report also provides recommendations for the best approaches to support grassroot networks based on the local ownership and laying foundations for potential peacebuilding processes.
Speakers:
Iryna Eihelson, PhD in psychology and member of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) network
Maksym Ieligulashvili, Dialogue facilitator, conflict resolution and peacebuilding expert
Tetiana Kalenychenko, PhD in philosophy, Head of the Dialogue in Action initiative, and Executive Director of the European Center for Strategic Analytics
Tetiana Kyselova, Associate Professor, PhD in socio-legal studies, and Head of the Mediation and Dialogue Research Center at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
The roundtable discussion will be held in an informal setting following Chatham House Rule and will include interventions from the audience.
Date and Venue: Wednesday, 20 July 2022, 14:30 – 16:00 at the Thon Hotel EU (Rue de la Loi 75, 1040 Bruxelles).
To RSVP (by 18 July) or for more information, please contact Ana Drobnjak (ana.drobnjak@cmi.fi).