Anti-war Resistance and Ethnic Minorities in Russia
Mentor
Dr. Marina Sergeeva is a researcher from one of the ethnic minority republics of Russia, currently working at a university in Europe. Her research interests include conflict theory, the theory of human rights, equality, violence, Islam, activism, and ethnic minorities. She has been published in various international refereed journals. She received her PhD in Social Sciences. Dr. Sergeeva has conducted numerous research and human rights expert consultancies and has written several reports on human (ethnic) rights and sustainable development goals. She is involved in internationally recognized and cited research projects for research centers and international non-governmental organizations. For many years, she has studied national and religious movements in the ethnic minority republics of Russia. In recent years, she has been researching and monitoring the situation in Russia’s regions, speaking at academic events, writing articles, and serving as an expert on the participation of ethnic minorities in the war.
Project Description
After Russia’s war against Ukraine began, thousands of ethnic minorities were sent to the front lines. The state recruited new military personnel from the outskirts of the country, targeting the poorest and most unprotected ethnic and religious minorities. The high casualties among these groups led to increased agitation and propaganda in the regions. Meanwhile, spontaneous protests began to erupt, with Dagestan becoming a focal point of protest activity. In parallel, anti-colonial and anti-imperialist initiatives appeared in the non-central regions. Abroad, new initiatives by Chechen and Ingush national organizations have emerged. Women, particularly those from ethnic minorities, have become prominent figures in the protest movements. For example, mothers and young girls from Dagestan drew global attention to anti-war protests.
The current processes have led to the emergence of a new response to imperial policies, dividing national societies. The war in Ukraine has spurred a new wave of ethnic resistance by religious groups and some ethnic minority members. These processes have prompted efforts to increase control over the Muslim population and civil society. In different regions, we have identified various resistance strategies. These processes are new and unexplored.
The research question for this project is to determine the role of ethnic minorities in anti-war resistance and to identify their functions, strategies, structures, etc. The research methodology involves qualitative research methods, such as content analysis, expert interviews, and surveys of ethnic minority representatives.
Intern Workload
Intern workload: 6 hours per month.
Intern Requirements
Language requirements: English C1, Russian C1.
Internship applications to this laboratory can be submitted in English or Russian.