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REVISED Call For Papers: Civil Society and Democracy in Ukraine

The Kennan Institute is pleased to announce that the research workshop on "Democracy and Civil Society in Ukraine" is now open to participants from outside of the United States. The application deadline has been extended to January 30, 2005.

The Kennan Institute is pleased to announce that the research workshop on "Democracy and Civil Society in Ukraine" is now open to participants from outside of the United States. The application deadline has been extended to January 30, 2005.

Among the most surprising aspects of Ukraine's 2004 "Orange Revolution" was the role played by citizen groups and individuals. The protests in Kyiv and the reaction to them in pro-government strongholds revealed the foundations of a powerful civil society, where new configurations of social groups, associations, and networks of affiliations based on shared values were in evidence on a broad scale. For Ukraine, the central question is whether this civil society can be sustained and strengthened, so that it might become an ongoing means of channeling societal interests and checking government power. The matter is complicated by the fact that Ukraine is undergoing substantial institutional reform. The case of Ukraine also raises questions about the other countries in the region. The Kennan Institute will convene a workshop series on "Democracy and Civil Society in Ukraine" bringing together approximately twelve practitioners, policymakers, and scholars from various disciplines who study the emergence of civil society in Ukraine, and the implications of that development for Ukraine and the entire region.

The Workshop Series is designed to serve as a forum in which scholars from a variety of disciplines can discuss the different aspects of democracy and civil society, share research findings, and suggest policy recommendations. Participants in the series will explore the ways in which policymakers and practitioners can utilize the specialized knowledge of academics, while scholars, in turn, can recognize how policy affects their field. The workshop series will be directed by Paul D'Anieri (University of Kansas). The series will consist of two meetings and target specialists with recent field experience. The first meeting will be held May 5-6, 2006 in Washington, D.C., and will serve as a forum for participants to present their current research. The second will be held October 12-14, 2006 in Ottawa in conjunction with Dominique Arel (University of Ottawa) and the Danyliw Research Seminar in Contemporary Ukrainian Studies. Participants will be expected to contribute an original submission to a collection of papers on common themes.

Selection for the workshop series will be based on an open national competition. Participation in the series is open to junior scholars at the post-doctoral level (pre-tenure) and to Ph.D. candidates who have completed field research for their dissertations. For non-academics, an equivalent degree of professional achievement is expected. The workshop series is interdisciplinary. Any area of social science or humanities research that focuses on issues of democracy and civil society in Ukraine is welcome. Participants will receive per diem costs and travel support.

Interested applicants should submit an abstract (fewer than 1000 words) of their current research, a current CV, and two letters of recommendation. Abstracts and resumes may be sent by email to: kennan@wilsoncenter.org, or by mail to: Democracy and Civil Society in Ukraine Workshop, Kennan Institute/Woodrow Wilson Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004-3027. Recommendation letters must be sent by mail. All application materials must be in English and must be received by January 30, 2006.

The "Democracy and Civil Society in Ukraine" Workshop Series is supported by the Program of Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII), the Wolodymyr George Danyliw Foundation, the Chair of Ukrainian Studies of the University of Ottawa, and the George F. Kennan Fund.

For further information, please contact Erin Hofmann at 202-691-4132 or Erin.Hofmann@wilsoncenter.org

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Kennan Institute

The Kennan Institute is the premier US center for advanced research on Russia and Eurasia and the oldest and largest regional program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The Kennan Institute is committed to improving American understanding of Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the surrounding region though research and exchange.  Read more