Trust, Cooperation, and Tension in Ukrainian Reconstruction: The Dynamics of Government Policies, Local Authorities, and Civil Society
Date and Time
Location
A lecture by Yuliya Bidenko, HURI Research Fellow and Associate Professor of Political Science, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
Moderated by Emma Mateo, Mihaychuk Postdoctoral Fellow at HURI
Attendees are invited to enjoy an informal lunch.
About the Lecture
The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has caused extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure and also dramatic changes in economic processes, human capital, and decision-making in Ukraine. Despite historical examples suggesting that reconstruction is most effective after conflict ends, Ukraine has been forced to undertake significant reconstruction during the war while also developing models for future interaction among the various actors involved in comprehensive recovery. In her lecture, Dr. Yuliya Bidenko seeks to shed light on the dynamics of government policies regarding ongoing and future reconstruction, as well as on the role of civil society, local self-government, and donors in this process.
The lecture also focuses on recent efforts to develop comprehensive recovery strategies for frontline cities and for the Kyiv region, which was partially occupied in 2022. In line with government requirements and drawing on previous reconstruction practices in various countries, this process was intended to be inclusive of residents and to involve civil society. However, based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods — including interviews with members of working groups, activists, experts, representatives of business associations, and academics — the presentation will show how the broader public and stakeholders have been engaged in different ways in recovery planning across various cities and regions. Most importantly, it will examine whether the application of participatory democracy instruments leads to greater public support or to increased government and donor funding for projects.
About the Speaker
Dr. Yuliya Bidenko is an Associate Professor and Master’s Program Guarantor of Global Studies and World Politics at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Political Science Department. She holds an MA in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Political Science. Her academic career bridges research and civic engagement, focusing on democratic governance, civil society development in Eastern Europe, and Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction in terms of public engagement and deliberative democracy, formal and informal practices, and elites’ cooperation and competition. She has held fellowships at leading research institutions including Carnegie Europe, the Petrach Program on Ukraine at George Washington University (2024–2025), the Free University of Berlin (SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence), the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS, Berlin), the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM, Vienna), Charles University (Prague), and the European Humanities University (Vilnius).
Beyond academia, Dr. Bidenko is deeply engaged in promoting democratic governance and civic education in Ukraine, contributing her expertise to international research and policy initiatives, civil society institutions and media, while co-founding two NGOs that advance civic participation and public dialogue. Despite the toll that Russia's full-scale invasion has taken on her family and home city, Dr. Bidenko continues to deliver lectures and participate in international conferences across Europe and North America. Her work highlights the resilience of Ukrainian society and the transformative role of civic actors in democratic reforms, EU integration, reconstruction, and governance before and during wartime.
This event is organized by HURI as part of the Ukraine Study Group public event series.
Persons with disabilities who wish to request accommodations or who have questions about access should contact HURI (huri@fas.harvard.edu) at least two weeks in advance of the session.
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