Ukrainian Studies at the Viadrina
Opportunities and Challenges
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The European University Viadrina, Frankfurt/Oder, is expanding its historical Ukrainian studies. The former “Center for Interdisciplinary Polish Studies” has become the “Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies”. Andrii Portnov, who holds the Chair of Entangled History of Ukraine, modifies the classic question “What does it mean to study history and to what end?” He warns against the politically motivated reductionism of post-colonial historiography and against falling back on a schematic national history. The complexities of Ukrainian history can only be studied and explained as a history of entanglements. Transnational, comparative history requires knowledge of local material. The development of Ukrainian Studies does not mean negating research on Poland or Russia.
(Osteuropa 12/2023, pp. 163–168)