Perfect Storm? Urban Studies Field in Ukraine

Abstract

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in 2022 has posed unprecedented challenges to Ukrainian society, including the academic and research sectors. The occupation of additional territories in the southern regions, coupled with the continued loss of previously occupied areas, has disrupted higher education and research activities in critical university centers such as Mariupol and Berdiansk.  Scholars in Ukraine are now tasked with addressing novel datasets, methodologies, and pressing realities, underscoring the field's enduring relevance and capacity for adaptation.

In response to current challenges, urban studies in Ukraine have increasingly emphasized topics such as:

• Post-War Reconstruction: Developing frameworks for rebuilding and revitalizing war-damaged cities while preserving historical and cultural identities.
• Heritage Preservation: Safeguarding cultural assets in the face of destruction and displacement, with attention to both tangible and intangible heritage.
• Urban Demographics and Migration: Analyzing population shifts, internal displacement, and changes in urban form resulting from the war.
• Historical Narratives: Reassessing urban histories to counter hegemonic narratives imposed by occupying forces and foregrounding local and national perspectives.

The ongoing transformation of urban studies in Ukraine illustrates the field's resilience and the determination of its scholars to adapt to and address the profound challenges of wartime. By engaging with these pressing issues, Ukrainian urban studies not only contribute to the nation's recovery but also enrich the global discourse on urban resilience and the role of academia in crisis contexts.  

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