ZOiS Newsletter
March 2025
ZOiS Spotlight 6/2025
by Olga Onuch and Gwendolyn Sasse
There have been expressions of doubt – not least by the US administration – as to whether Volodymyr Zelenskyi is still the legitimate President of Ukraine. However, the suspension of elections under martial law is not only common practice but also a way of protecting democratic standards.

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News
Special Guest Talk| 31/03/2025, 11.00 am – 01.30 pm | ZOiS, Mohrenstr.60, 10117 Berlin
co-hosted by UNET@ZOiS, Forum Transregionale Studien, KIU and Prisma Ukraïna
Since the Maidan and the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2014, normative femininity in Ukraine has shifted. The image of the woman-warrior is gaining ground, combining military service, political leadership, folk culture, and more. This talk explores hybrid femininity and its growing recognition in media and state discourse.

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Publications
by Veronika Pfeilschifter 
Left-wing and feminist ideas don’t have it easy in Armenia’s patriarchal society. For young women – as a new study shows – being left-wing is associated mainly with feelings of rage, fear and disappointment. At the same time, hope and solidarity play a major role in their struggle for social change.

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Spotlight on Ukraine 14
by Hanna Shvindina 
As Ukraine navigates the ongoing war and looks ahead to postwar recovery, women are stepping into leadership roles in many sectors. Despite facing systemic barriers, female leaders can bring adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative approach that drives social transformation.

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Events
ERDAM Event | 10/04/2025, 12.00 pm – 01.30 pm| online
with Olivier Ferrando (Catholic University of Lyon), Hakob Matevosyan (ZOiS). Moderator: Tsypylma Darieva (ZOiS)
How do Russian migrants in Central Asia navigate their identities amid uncertainty? Based on interviews, Olivier Ferrando examines shifting perceptions of Russian citizenship—between pragmatism and renunciation.

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You are welcome to find out about current events on our website: www.zois-berlin.de/en/events
 
 
Media
Interview with Gwendolyn Sasse on Deutschlandfunk Nova (24/03/2025)
Report with assessments by Beate Eschment in the Deutschlandfunk Kultur Podcast 'Weltzeit' (10.03.2025)
Report with assessments by Beate Eschment in the SWR podcast ‘Das Wissen’ (10/03/2025)
Interview with Gwendolyn Sasse on Deutschlandfunk Kultur (07/03/2025)
 
Links to our media coverage on current topics can be found on our website ZOiS in the media.