Can Art Help a Country Recover from War? Ukraine’s Cultural Frontline

What does it mean to “win” a war? Is it the reclaiming of land—or the reclaiming of people?

In her article, Dr. Anna Korzeniowska-Bihun suggests that true victory in Ukraine’s struggle with Russian aggression won’t be measured just in military terms, but in the ability to rebuild trust, identity, and cultural cohesion. Her focus is on the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk—regions under occupation for years, where Russian propaganda has worked to sever not only political but psychological ties with the rest of Ukraine.

What can counter this? Not only peacekeepers and policy—but also poems, plays, and paintings.

Korzeniowska-Bihun introduces the concept of anthropological defense, arguing that cultural initiatives—especially grassroots, independent ones—can bridge the growing chasm between “them” and “us.” Theater groups, poets, and documentary artists have stepped in where the state has fallen short, challenging stereotypes and rehumanizing those caught behind the front line. Some initiatives even address the complexity of former enemies—recognizing their suffering without excusing their choices.

Using Judith Butler’s concept of the “grievable life”, the author stresses the political importance of recognizing the pain of those who were once “othered.” It’s not about erasing guilt, but about laying the groundwork for a post-war society that can live together again.

Culture, in this vision, is not an afterthought—it’s a battlefield of its own. And perhaps, in the long run, the one that matters most.

Full article (in Polish): Wiedza Obronna, 2019, Vol. 266-267, No. 1-2.