The myth of the 'empty steppe' How Europe misimagines Ukraine

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 14-10-2025
Publisher RAAM op Rusland, Oekraïne, Belarus
Organisations
  • Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG) - Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR)
Abstract Too often, Ukraine is imagined as a vast empty steppe, devoid of its people. Some in the West therefore suggest that giving up some of this expanse in exchange for peace with Russia should not be too big of a deal. Olga Burlyuk, associate professor at the University of Amsterdam, argues that such readiness for land concessions is deeply rooted in the European imagination of Ukraine
Document type Web publication or website
Language English
Published at https://platformraam.nl/artikelen/2913-the-myth-of-the-empty-steppe-how-europe-misimagines-ukraine
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The myth of the 'empty steppe' (Final published version)
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