New Book Explores the Impact of War on Ethno-Cultural Minorities in Ukraine

In November 2024, Routledge published the edited volume Minorities at War: Cultural Identity and Resilience in Ukraine, edited by Elmira Muratova and Nadia Zasanska. This collection, part of the Routledge Advances in Minority Studies, looks into the challenges faced by Ukraine’s ethno-cultural minorities, who over the past decade have contended with forced displacement, emigration, the destruction of familiar ways of life, and profound transformations in identity and language behavior.

The book examines the cultural identities of minority groups under crisis and explores the mechanisms and components of their resilience. Key themes include collective memory and coping strategies, mobilization and humanitarianism, forced displacement, and the preservation of identity.

The volume is a direct outcome of an expert workshop, The War in Ukraine and its Impact on Ethno-Religious Minorities in the Region, held at the ECMI in May 2023. Organized by the ECMI, the workshop brought together leading scholars and experts to discuss the complex dynamics of war, displacement, and identity preservation among Ukraine’s minorities. The insights and discussions from the workshop formed the basis of the book, making it an important contribution to minority studies scholarship.

While most works on the Russo-Ukrainian war focus on the international context, causes, and humanitarian consequences, this volume uniquely centers the experiences of ethno-cultural minorities – an often-overlooked perspective in discussions of conflict. The book offers a timely exploration of the ways in which minority groups navigate and adapt to crises, contributing to broader discourses on resilience and identity in conflict settings.

For more information or to purchase the book, visit Taylor & Francis.