Seminar: “Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe: Between Transitological Illusions and 21st Century Fascism”

Ignatianum University in Kraków Center for History and Development "Poland-Ukraine" invite to a seminar:

“Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe: Between Transitological Illusions and 21st Century Fascism”

It has been 35 years since the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Soviet Union. This period marks deep social, political, civilizational, and geopolitical changes in the region. It is also a time when Eastern European states and nations had the opportunity to define their agency in relation to the West and Russia. Furthermore, it is a time when both the West and Russia had the chance to reassess their perspectives on this part of Europe. What has changed in the past 35 years? What are the prospects for the future? The answers to these questions may vary, but at present, they will always be framed within one crucial context: Russia’s war on Ukraine.

We invite you to join us in reflecting on these issues. The discussion will be inspired by presentations from the following panelists:

Paul D’Anieri (University of California, Riverside) Maria Domańska (Centre for Eastern Studies) Mateusz Filary-Szczepanik (Ignatianum University in Kraków) Ian Garner (Pilecki Institute) Joanna Getka (University of Warsaw) Sidney Kerr Sheppard (University of California, Riverside) Taras Kuzio (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy) Marcin Składanowski (Catholic University of Lublin) Damian Strycharz (Cracow University of Economics) Artur Wołek (Ignatianum University in Kraków)

Date: January 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Location: Ignatianum University in Kraków, Kopernika 26

The detailed program of the event will be announced soon.

Contact to the organizer: seminarcracow@gmail.com

Participation in the event is free of charge after prior registration. Registration deadline: 22.01.2026.

To register, click the link below: FORM

10.00 - Welcome to participants and opening remarks.

Set 1 (10.15-12.15)

Damian Strycharz (Krakow University of Economics)

Role change and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Mateusz Filary-Szczepanik (Ignatianum University in Krakow)

Is Russia an Old Narcist State? Ideal type in empirical practice.

Paul d’Anieri (University of California, Riverside)

Neutrality and its historical record of preventing invasion (and implications for Ukraine)

Marcin Składanowski (Catholic University of Lublin)

Russia as a permanent factor threat and international destabilisation: Neo-imperialism and aggression in Russian security policy

12.15-12.45 Coffee break

Set 2 (12.45-14.15)

Maria Domańska (Centre for Eastern Studies, Warsaw)

Russia’s strategic culture as fertile ground for modern fascism: How to deal with this dangerous synergy?

Ian Garner (Pilecki Institute, Warsaw)

Putin's Fascist Dreamland: Transcending the Corporeal in the Era of Virtual Fascism

Joanna Getka (University of Warsaw)

Revising Russian Terminology: Essential for Understanding the Processes of Fascization and Cognitive Warfare

14.15 – 15.00 – Lunch

Set 3 (15.00-16.30)

Taras Kuzio (National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”)

Four roots of Russia’s war on Ukraine

Sydney Kerr Sheppard (University of California, Riverside)

American Public Support: The Russia-Ukraine War

Artur Wołek (Ignatianum University in Krakow)

Illiberal democracy, democratic backsliding or the return of informal institutions. Framing Central Eastern Europe's democracy crisis