IET and International Relations Research Seminar 'Russia’s War against Ukraine through a Post-Colonial Looking Glass'

Theme:

This research seminar examines the relevance of the post-colonial perspective in making sense of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Taking a recently published Journal of Genocide Research forum contribution as its starting point, the discussion will reflect on the academic debates on the applicability of the ‘postcolonial’ label and lens to Ukraine. We inquire why the post-Soviet states have been generally left out of sight of post-colonial theory and what their invisibility (or relative ignorance) by post-colonial theory tells us about the theory at large. In which ways does the Russian aggression against Ukraine serve as a looking glass war for the field of International Relations (IR) more generally?

Dr Maria Mälksoo is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Military Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen. She is the PI of the European Research Council’s Consolidator Grant RITUAL DETERRENCE and leads the University of Copenhagen team in the Volkswagen Foundation-supported MEMOCRACY consortium.

Prof Charlotte Epstein is currently a Research Director at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies (HCAS). She is currently undertaking a project called 'Decolonizing Political Action'.

Dr Birgit Poopuu is Associate Professor of International Relations and Head of the International Relations and Futures Studies study area at Tallinn University’s School of Governance, Law and Society. Her recent research projects have explored the Syrian revolution through the eyes of Syrian activists.

Further information: Liis Tiirmann, Liis.Tiirmann@tlu.ee

This research seminar is organised by TLU Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Lifecourse Studies (IET) and TLU SOGOLAS International Relations study area. The activity is supported by the Tallinn University's ASTRA project TLU TEE, Activity 9, financed by European Regional Development Fund.