Voluntary Formations of Local Communities in the Ukrainian-Russian War

I want to talk about one aspect of the phenomenon of voluntary movement during the Ukrainian-Russian war, namely the voluntary formations of territorial communities (ДФТГ, добровольчі формування територіальних громад). I prefer the more concise and quite correct term "local self-defence".

Local self-defence is in the shadow of the much more popular paramilitary volunteer formations (volunteer battalions) like Azov and Aidar, on the one hand, and the Territorial Defence Forces, on the other. Meanwhile, as a political phenomenon, local self-defence is distinct and separate from all other forms of volunteer movement. Moreover, in some aspects it is unique.

The text of my report can be found in the notes to the slides. Just download the presentation and open it in PowerPoint

1. Facing Uncertainty Voluntary Formations of Local Communities in the Ukrainian-Russian War (2014-24) ZZF Workshop, Potsdam, May 2024

2. Origins of interest in the topic Practices of conflict management and civic activism Forms and methods of citizens' self-organisation in political struggle Distinguishing between political competition and political struggle "The Future of the Ukrainian Revolution," 2015 "People's militia in Ukraine. Issues of theory and practice", 2016

3. Local Self- Defense . Field Observations, 2022 Men aged 45-50 on average Approximately 30% with own registered weapons Low aggressiveness, limited ambitions No interest in combat weapons Need to manage risks and cope with psychological stress

4. Typical Forms of Volunteer Formations in the Ukrainian-Russian War Local Self- Defense ( ДФТГ , local militia) Volunteer Formations within the Armed Forces (Azov, Aidar , etc.) Paramilitary Formations of Political Organizations ( Right Sector) Territorial Defense Forces within the Armed Forces

5. Volunteer Formations: Anthropology Volunteer formations as a form of spontaneous social orders, a typical reaction of individuals and communities to extraordinary circumstances The need for managing uncertainty and the stress it generates as the driving force for participation in local self-defense

6. Volunteer Formations: Political aspects Statism vs Liberalism

7. Facing Uncertainty Roman Khimich [email protected]