Description
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has resulted in a massive boost of knowledge production by Ukrainian expert groups, including think tanks. This knowledge is often explicitly addressed at European audiences – political decision-makers and the general public – with the aims to generate and maintain support for Ukraine, which manifests the experts' involvement in their country's collective diplomatic efforts. This article examines how Ukrainian think tankers have adapted their diplomacy functions – negotiation, communication, information-gathering, and promoting friendly relations with other countries – in the context of the full-scale war. To this end, we juxtapose insights from existing studies, participant observation and an original set of reflexive expert interviews with Ukrainian think tankers. The paper explicates the proactive agenda-setting and agency demonstrated by Ukrainian think tanks as they actively shape public discourse through the expansion of international collaborations and diversification of outreach efforts targeting a broader spectrum of foreign audiences. By providing insights into the work of Ukrainian think tanks in times of war, this paper aims to amplify their voices, shedding light on the intricacies of policy expertise amidst Russia’s full-scale invasion and the challenges Ukrainian experts confront, including the war's impact on human capital, daily work, and mobility.
