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Religious Actors and Peacebuilding in Ukraine

Date: Thursday, January 18, 2024 / Time: 9:00am - 10:30am EST

Center: Russia and Europe Center

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The current war in Ukraine involves the intersection of numerous geopolitical and ideological forces — many of which are not explicitly religious. Nevertheless, religion and religious actors have an important effect on the evolution of conflict dynamics, Ukrainian society at large, and prospects for future peacebuilding. USIP’s new report, “Mapping the Religious Landscape of Ukraine,” analyzes the nuanced connections between religion and Ukrainian society — which are crucial to understanding the broader war — and offers lessons that can guide effective, feasible peacemaking and peacebuilding interventions.

On January 18, USIP held a conversation with the report’s authors and other experts on religion in Ukraine. The discussion examined the report’s key findings and offered important insights on the latest developments at the intersection of religion, politics and security in Ukraine today.

Speakers

Peter Mandaville, moderator 
Senior Advisor, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace 
 
Denys Brylov
Co-Founder and Director, European Center for Strategic Analytics (Ukraine)
 
Tetiana Kalenychenko
Co-Founder and Director, European Center for Strategic Analytics (Ukraine)
 
Andrii Kryshtal 
Project Manager, Conciliation Resources
 
Catherine Wanner
Professor of History, Anthropology and Religious Studies, Pennsylvania State University
 
Nicholas Danysenko
Emil and Elfriede Jochum Chair in Theology, Valparaiso University
 
Mary Glantz, closing remarks
Acting Director, Russia Program, U.S. Institute of Peace

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