Understanding Displacement in Ukraine: Interdisciplinary Perspectives - International Workshop

International workshop, 6-7 June 2024, Institute for Advanced Study, Durham University

Part of the major project ‘Looking Back to Move Forward: History, Recovery, and Sustainability in Understanding the War in Ukraine on a Global Scale’, led by Markian Prokopovych and Chrysostomos Apostolidis at the Institute for Advanced Study, Durham University, the workshop starts from the assumption that to draw meaningful recommendations for managing displacement caused by war, such as in the case of contemporary Ukraine, it is necessary to examine regional historical roots and processes that led to it as well as to draw on other examples of displacement, historical as well as contemporary, and the solutions that have been offered. While the war in Ukraine was not in any way caused by an internal societal conflict within the country, there is a need to re-examine the corpus of research on other conflicts where this element might have been more prominent – from Northern Ireland to the Balkans, the Near East, Afghanistan, and Vietnam – and how they led to displacement issues within and beyond the immediate war zone. Understanding the nature of displacement, its social processes, and the displaced persons’ current needs, for example, in the areas of education and culture, is key to devising contemporary social policy. Furthermore, this might help to support future institutional and societal recovery and reform in countries affected by the displacement of Ukrainians.

Bringing in expertise from Ukraine, as well as relying on the knowledge of the international expert community, the workshop aims to explore historical, economic, socio-cultural, psychological and health implications of displacement in contemporary Ukraine. The workshop will complement existing research initiatives on displacement with an aim to offer fresh perspectives for research and policy-oriented decision-making in the field, with a potential focus on Ukrainian refugees in the UK and other countries in Western Europe. The value of the new initiative lies in its capacity to convene experts and stakeholders to address critical issues from multiple perspectives, including understanding state responsibilities, promoting civil society engagement, addressing comprehensive migration governance, and advancing inclusive social policies. The workshop aims to facilitate collaborative dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange, fostering effective networking for evidence-based research and the development of innovative solutions and actionable strategies to support displaced populations with the goal of enhancing their resilience in navigating complex challenges.


Keynote lectures will be given by Franck Düvell, Osnabrück University, and Peter Gatrell, Manchester University. The final programme will be circulated in due course.

Attendance is free, but the places are limited. To register to attend in person, please write to markian.prokopovych@durham.ac.uk. The format of the workshop will be hybrid; ways to register for online attendance will be circulated shortly.

To follow shortly.