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Diplomacy beyond the State: Ukrainian think tanks as wartime diplomacy actors

Europe (Central and Eastern)
War
State Power
P9
Vera Axyonova
University of Vienna
Katsiaryna Lozka
Ghent University
Diane Stone
European University Institute

Wednesday 17:00 - 18:00 GMT (08/05/2024)

Abstract

To understand the effects of war on the diplomatic practices of nonstate actors, this article focuses on the wartime diplomacy efforts of Ukrainian think tank experts in Europe in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Drawing on the concept of think tank diplomacy, the study specifically examines how Ukrainian think tankers adapted their diplomacy functions – negotiation, communication, information-gathering and promotion of friendly relations with other countries – under the conditions of the full-out war. The analysis combines insights from existing studies with the authors’ participant observation and original reflexive expert interviews with Ukrainian think tankers. The article reveals how Ukrainian expert professionals, unified by the goal of generating and maintaining international support for their country, adapted their diplomatic practices for asserting greater control over their agendas, engaging in cross-border collaborations and broadening their outreach efforts. By shedding light on the work of Ukrainian think tank experts in times of war, this article showcases the agency of knowledge-producing nonstate actors in wartime diplomacy.