Description
Conscientious objection to military service has long been a critical site of resistance to state power, militarization, and gender norms, particularly in contexts of heightened national conflict and authoritarianism. This panel brings together contributions from Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine to examine how individuals resisting conscription navigate the legal, social, and personal dimensions of conscientious objection within contemporary political landscapes. By situating conscientious objection in the context of ongoing wars and militarization, this panel interrogates the ways in which state repression, shifting asylum frameworks, and social norms intersect to shape the experiences of conscientious objectors. The discussions also extend beyond the legal and political dimensions of objection, exploring how notions of masculinity and national identity are challenged and reconfigured in the face of compulsory military service. The contributions draw on interdisciplinary frameworks—spanning law, sociology, and feminist theory—to offer a nuanced understanding of how conscientious objection functions as both a personal act of resistance and a broader critique of militarism, state violence, and gendered power structures. Through a comparative lens, the panel sheds light on the transnational dynamics of conscientious objection, offering critical insights into the struggles of individuals who find themselves at the intersections of war, repression, and migration.
