War in Ukraine: Societal Transformation, Peace and Reconciliation, Post-War Reconstruction
The Russian war on Ukraine is a year old and shows no signs of abating. While the world’s attention remains rightly focused on the changing military situation and the terrible suffering of Ukraine’s civilian population under Putin’s unprovoked assault, the one-year mark is also an opportunity to reflect on Ukraine’s future at the heart of Europe. Georgetown University is bringing a diverse group of scholars and policymakers together to explore the impact of the war on Ukrainian society, dynamics of reconciliation across religious communities and civil society, and the domestic and international dynamics of post-war reconstruction within the country.
This conference is sponsored by the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies; Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security; and Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Public Health Measures: This event will take place in-person at Georgetown University, which requires all visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or to attest to having a medical or religious exemption from being vaccinated. All visitors must complete the COVID-19 visitor registration for this event.
Schedule
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. | Coffee and gathering
10:00 – 10:15 a.m. | Welcome remarks
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. | War and the Transformation of Ukrainian Society
The panel will explore the profound transformation of Ukrainian civil society under the impact of the war, including leadership opportunities for women and institution-building that can further Ukraine’s democratic consolidation and accession to the European Union.
Serhii Plokhy, Harvard University
Frank Sysyn, University of Alberta
Melanne Verveer, Georgetown University
José Casanova (moderator), Georgetown University
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Religion, Civil Society, and Paths to Reconciliation
This panel will examine the potential role of churches, public intellectuals, and civil society in much-needed peace and reconciliation within Ukrainian Orthodoxy and—when the war ends—between Ukrainian and Russian Orthodoxy.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Cyril Hovorun, Sankt Ignatios Theological Academy
Pavlo Smytsnyuk, Princeton University
Katherine Marshall (moderator), Georgetown University
2:00 – 2:20 p.m. | Coffee break
2:20 – 3:50 p.m. | Post-War Reconstruction
The panel will explore possible paths for post-war reconstruction across multiple sectors of Ukrainian society. A particular focus will be the positive role that U.S. universities and other international cultural institutions can play in the process.
John E. Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
Oksana Markarova, ambassador of Ukraine to the United States
John F. Tefft, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
Joel Hellman (moderator), Georgetown University
3:50 – 4:00 p.m. | Concluding Remarks
Accessibility: Please email berkleycenter@georgetown.edu by February 28 with any accessibility requests. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill all requests made after this date.