The project aimed to conduct a comparative study of urban cultural diversity and multiculturalism practices in Ukraine. Special attention was given to examining multicultural practices in various countries worldwide. The project was implemented during 2021–2022 and was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Canadian government’s adoption of multiculturalism as an official policy.
Organizers: the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) at the University of Alberta (Canada) and V.N.Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine).
Research questions:
- Are the concepts and practices of multiculturalism compatible with the post-Soviet experience of building a nation-state?
- Can the experiences of Ukrainian immigrant communities abroad, as well as those of immigrants within Ukraine, contribute to developing more effective policies for harmonizing ethno-racial and religious diversity?
- How can we anticipate the influence of inequality factors (e.g., gender, race, class, sexuality) on the prospects of shaping diverse identities and fostering societal cohesion?
Key outcomes:
- Special issue “(Re)Inventing Multiculturalism in Ukraine: Models, Practices, and Discourses,” published in “The Ideology and Politics Journal” (no. 2(21), 2022).
- Virtual exhibition “Colored Shards: Life Among Others” at the YermilovCenter for Contemporary Art in Kharkiv. The exhibition showcased works by young artists exploring contemporary issues in the transformation of Ukraine's cultural landscape. The imagery of colored shards symbolized the cultural contexts at the intersections of which various identities are formed. Culture was likened to glass through which individuals perceive the world, ultimately shaping their worldview.
