The 2024 TCUP conference this last February centered on the topic of decolonizing Ukraine.
Recordings of the conference and its individual panels are now available online, at the HURI YouTube channel.
The discussion took place at the intersection of theory and action. Speakers not only covered the cerebral realm of analysis but also the hard logistics of establishing a sovereign nation. Emily Channell-Justice, director of TCUP at HURI and the organizer of the conference, opened the event with an emphasis on action. “Decolonization doesn’t just happen,” she asserted. “It’s demanded, it’s fought for, and it’s contested.”
Razom for Ukraine CEO Dora Chomiak delivered the keynote lecture, mirroring this focus on the practicalities of decolonization. She spoke on the infrastructure Ukraine has already established to engage civil society, construct a free press, and sustain a sense of independence. Chomiak espoused a belief in the human drive for free will and sovereignty. Her lecture suggested that humanity and dignity are basic needs for a community.
The first panel, on the foundations of decolonization, recommended a shift in mentality. A colony should not seek an identity that depends on others, but rather establish an independent sense of self. Deeper than just obtaining national sovereignty, decolonizing means rejecting archaic patterns of being. Speakers suggested that to truly liberate itself, Ukraine should not emulate the tactics of colonizers. Rather, the country needs to articulate its own identity, independent of its oppressive relationship with Russia. Accordingly, Russia would be forced to establish a new identity too, distinct from its “empire” status in respect to former colonies such as Ukraine.
The second panel began with a debate as to what region Ukraine should belong to. In the view of some speakers, pigeonholing the nation in a box alongside its neighbors does it a disservice. The discussion found the country too liberal to mesh with common perceptions of Central or Eastern Europe. It rejects its own legacy as a post-Soviet nation; it seeks to declare itself European; it struggles with ties to the Russian empire. Creativity will be required, from Ukrainian citizens and the scholarly community alike, to comprehend the country’s complex identity.
The third panel covered the ties between Ukraine and the United States. It started by addressing concerns that the United States has colonialist intentions, in respect to Ukraine. Speakers roundly rejected this notion, maintaining that American policies during the war had kept Ukraine in control of its own destiny. They pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t established an administrative state in Ukraine, plundered resources, or modeled other such colonialist patterns. Speakers suggested that such accusations from Russia were projections of that Federation’s own behavior. The panel concluded with calls for further weaponry and sanctions from the United States.
The fourth and final panel turned to Ukrainian domestic policies. On a pragmatic level, speakers talked about promoting the Ukrainian language and dismantling corrosive Russian hierarchies. The discussion also dwelt on an evolving, inclusive vision of the country. This meant reintegrating occupied regions, treating indigenous Crimean populations with respect, and encouraging multiculturalism. Some speakers stressed that creating a supportive environment for the Ukrainian language does not mean rejecting Russian or other minority tongues.
Attendees postulated that Ukraine should become a positive world influence, through committing to liberty and diversity. This reflects a recurring theme of the conference: decolonizing by rejecting the mistakes and habits of the colonizers. The 2024 conference combined the technicalities of policy with the nebulous subject of identity. To view video playlists of these dialogues in English or Ukrainian, please click the links below.
2024 TCUP Conference Recording — English Version
2024 TCUP Conference Recording — Ukrainian Version