I participated in one of the first events of a new academy called ‘Young Network TransEurope’ (YNT). The event, entitled Reclaiming Europe, was held in Gdańsk, Poland, on the 13, 14th and 15th of October 2024. The YNT academy has been designed to stimulate the European project, in this event, in response to the Russian war of aggression, by focusing on Ukraine and its neighboring states of Central Europe. [One participant pointed out that Eastern Europe, sometimes used for this region, is somewhat of a misnomer in that Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Belarus are in central Europe]. The sponsors hope to accomplish this by bringing together rising stars among mid-career scholars to discuss key issues. This event raised discussions around big concepts – prosperity, democracy, and freedom – while avoiding academic presentations in favor of open discussions kicked off by a couple of the young scholars. I was one of a smaller set of elder, senior academics invited to join the discussion, but I managed to draw some attention to my collaborative research on media and information literacy in Ukraine.
A few points: First, the idea is excellent. The focus on Ukraine and its neighboring states is a recognition of how ‘ignorant’ so many people across the world and even in Europe are about this region of Europe. Even leaders of the key academic organizations behind the event argued that they and many colleagues felt ignorant of the region, which is one reason so many had not reacted to the early aggression by Russia, such as in the annexation of Crimea. Russia’s actions did not draw the attention of the global community. Perhaps if the world had been more knowledgeable about the history and nations of Ukraine and the region, Russian advances might have even been addressed much earlier. The world was simply not watching closely enough with enough knowledge to raise early alarms.
Secondly, the opening evening’s kickoff was brilliant, even after nearly getting lost trying to find my way to the venue. Fortunately for me, I met two Ukrainian colleagues, also uncertain of directions, during my search for the venue in what was once the ‘Lenin Shipyards’ in Gdańsk. Together, we found 11cznia, Gdańsk. This is where Lech Walesa began the Solidarity movement, which worked over a decade to permit steel workers to have the freedom to organize outside of the communist labor unions. This movement demonstrated that ordinary people – the steel workers – can do extraordinary things and make history.
Not only was the opening event held amidst the symbolism of the shipyard, which played a part in the birth of democracy in Poland, but the opening event was a ‘Concert in the Spirit of Democracy’ featuring the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra conducted on this occasion by Stephan Frucht, playing Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in C Major ‘The Great’. The concert was introduced by an inspiring talk by the President of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Christoph Markschies, and a powerful speech by the Nobel Prize winning civil rights activist, Oleksandra Matviichuk. In a huge caverness concrete venue with graffiti art filling the walls, the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra was spectacular. They also began with a moving Ukrainian piece, Miroslav Skorik’s Melody. It was truly inspiring.
Finally, congratulations to the YNT. It is so valuable to be networking scholars across Europe. Some nations justifiably feel that they have been ‘left behind’ in Europe. There is nothing more important and achievable than combating ignorance about their history and present circumstances – my ignorance as well as that of many others. The dynamics of Europe, particularly when Ukraine and its surrounding countries are facing brutal Russian aggression is complex, but that is even more reason to invest in such an important initiative.
Thanks to those who invited me and all the best to colleagues who were so helpful to me in Gdańsk, including Jean-Claude Bergleman, Olga Garaschuk, Yevheniia Polishchuk, Anastasiia Simakhova, and Nataliia Sokolovska, my colleague at HIIG.
Congratulations, Bill. It is very important everything you are doing currently in support of Ukraine. Huge thanks,,,,