Vol. XII – NAVIGATING PERMACRISIS: REASSESSING DOMINANT NARRATIVES IN TIMES OF CONFLICT

As we continue to grapple with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine since, we have had to reconsider the place we hold as researchers of Europe and Eurasia, the way we acquire knowledge, and critically assess unfolding global geopolitical events.

Eurasiatique’s Volume XII explores the theme of “Navigating Permacrisis: Reassessing Dominant Narratives in Times of Conflict.” Permacrisis denotes prolonged periods of instability, which have led to global turmoil and exacerbated polarization. The resulting discord between competing narratives has influenced which ones gain traction in the mainstream discourse. Therefore, needing to scrutinize colonial relationships of power, we set into sharp focus underrepresented minority voices and examine our prior biases and prejudices. The present edition attempts to challenge our understanding of the region and its historical and political actors.

Misrepresenting and constructing narratives for geopolitical objectives is a common tactic employed by present-day leaders and societal factions in an array of situations. Current events and their coverage at home and abroad suffice to grasp the prevalence of this phenomenon. Ekaterina Gonchar delves into the Kremlin’s cognizant disinformation mechanisms, a legacy of Soviet practices, to evaluate the moral dilemmas of state officials and media outlet employees. The theological dynamics of global Orthodoxy are explored by Amir Nassar who critically assesses the Russian state’s use of the Orthodox Church as an instrument of soft power to pull Ukraine back into its sphere of influence. Contributing to media studies with a novel analysis on the coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Russia’s Pervyi Kanal and the United States’ NBC, Johnny Amundson highlights the absence of necessary context and impartiality and notes that both channels reflect the geopolitical interests of their countries, albeit influenced by different journalistic tendencies.

It has become increasingly important to focus our scholarship on whose voices have prevailed, particularly in areas of ongoing contention. In shifting angles from the majority and decentering Russia, Moscow, or the Kremlin as a starting point of analysis, we acknowledge the other, underrepresented, and undertheorized perspectives of Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Russia, and Central Asia. Shining a light on issues of queerness as a refugee in Istanbul, Ayberk Dizdarlar explores the nuanced understanding of life in Istanbul for queer individuals, examining their experiences with survival and the circumstances that brought them to the city. Sophie Sacilotto studies the significance of Babyn Yar in Kyiv, Ukraine, as a site of Holocaust massacre, highlighting the repression and subsequent memorialization by the Soviet Union and, later, independent Ukraine. She emphasizes the complexities of memorialization and the manipulation of memory by governments, particularly poignant in the context of Russia’s allegations of Ukrainian neo- Nazism and recent bombing of the Babyn Yar park.

Periods of upheaval present an opening for reassessment and for the analysis of new voices to complicate academic discussions. As such, we welcomed submissions that question established interpretations and bring attention to overlooked narratives for a more comprehensive and adapted response on the part of states and international organizations.

Erlin Trifoni contributes to the literature on governance regarding refugees by delving into Finland’s proactive response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, which involves welcoming and integrating refugees while acknowledging the need for further social-services provisions and labor-market integration. He further considers enhanced dialogue with the EU to address the migration of Russian conscripts, balancing national security and foreign policy concerns. Özgür Özdemir highlights the usefulness of the constructivist framework in international relations by critically evaluating Lisel Hintz’ Identity Politics Inside Out: National Identity Contestation and Foreign Policy in Turkey to push forth the need to acknowledge national specificities and actors for the formulation and implementation of foreign policy. The role of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is critically assessed across Thomas Law’s and Blythe Gilbert’s articles. Law examines Georgia’s endeavours to establish stronger connections with NATO and the EU, its progress in democratization, and the absence of definite routes to membership. It serves as a case study to avoid bolstering Russia and encountering impeded democratization, similar to the experience in Georgia, as Ukraine pursues its own rapprochement with Western alliances. Gilbert, on the other hand, considers how the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the resurgence of major-power competition have led to a reevaluation of European defense strategy outlined in the NATO Security Concept and European Union Strategic Compass, with divergent national interests challenging the implementation of unified strategies, underscoring the ongoing struggle of European integration in enforcing shared principles amid evolving international competition.

Analyzing how perspectives are highlighted and silenced is fundamental if we are to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the past, present, and future. The rapid developments in the region and singular events of potential world-historical significance force us to better grasp the regional dynamics in conjunction with global ones, considering the heterogeneity of perspectives and experiences. This volume and its contributions aim to judiciously re-evaluate our understanding of historical, political, social, and cultural trajectories.

With many sincere thanks to the Editorial Board and the writers for their unwavering commitment to making this year’s volume a timely and insightful addition to discussions of belonging, movement, worldviews, geopolitics, and memory amidst ever-changing circumstances.

Ioana Zamfir

Editor-in-Chief