Ukraine's nation-building amid war and displacement : cultural heritage in transition

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Costarelli, Veronica; Sadowski, Mirosław M. and Bonaviri, Gianluigi Mastandrea and Ceccotti, Filippo, eds. (2025) Ukraine's nation-building amid war and displacement : cultural heritage in transition. In: Heritage in War and Peace IV. University of Strathclyde Publishing, Glasgow. ISBN 9781914241802 (https://doi.org/10.17868/strath.00093377)

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Abstract

This paper explores how Ukraine’s nation-building efforts, accelerated by the war, are transforming its cultural landscape through decommunisation and the removal of Soviet-era monuments. It assesses the impact of these actions on collective memory, national identity, and the representation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). While removing Soviet symbols is seen as an act of decolonisation, this paper argues that it also raises ethical concerns about historical erasure, especially for communities with complex ties to these monuments. Through memory studies and nation-building theory, the paper presents case studies and policy analysis to highlight how these changes may either foster unity or deepen societal divisions. It advocates for an inclusive and participatory approach to decommunisation, suggesting that reinterpretation, dialogue, and community engagement can ensure that memory politics contributes to democratic consolidation rather than polarisation.

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