With the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been actively utilizing the trope of a postcolonial struggle in its external strategic communication. This shift in positionality is aimed at forging stronger relations with the Global South. However, the prospects of speaking in one voice with the global South based on alleged similarities of postcolonial transition look murky and raise tension with Ukraine’s postcolonial Euro-Atlantic narrative.
During her lecture, Dr. Yuliia Kurnyshova will delve into the semiotic diversities of Ukraine’s postcolonial narrative. Specifically, she will explore narrative accounts that contribute to the rapprochement with the global South (such as war-torn insecurities), as well as those that exhibit significant limitations, including analogical reasoning, hybridity, and victimization. She will also invite discussion on the practical implications and possible alternatives to Ukraine’s postcolonial positioning in its global relations. This lecture contributes to the ongoing debates on Ukraine’s postcolonial identity.
When: Saturday, 15 November 2023, 12:00-13:00 (CET)
Where: Online and in person: Room 2.1, T1, Campus Ufo, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, Universiteit Gent, Gent
