CALL FOR ABSTRACTS : The Radical Left and the War in Ukraine: Positions, Contradictions and Global Perspectives

Publié le 22 septembre 2025 – Mis à jour le 22 septembre 2025

Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, war has once again taken centre stage in European and international politics, producing a deep rift in the discourse and practices of radical left forces around the world. In a context marked by new geopolitical tensions, growing militarisation and the redefinition of global alliances, radical left-wing movements and parties have found themselves having to reformulate their analyses, positions and strategies.

While some forces have openly condemned Russian aggression, siding with military support for Ukraine in the name of the right to self-defence, others have maintained a critical or ambiguous stance, invoking anti-imperialism, NATO's role as a trigger for the conflict, or a broader reading of the crisis as an expression of the decline of the Western world order. Between these two poles lie intermediate positions, often marked by internal tensions, communication difficulties and strategic contradictions.

In light of these dynamics, this webinar aims to open a broad, critical and comparative debate on how the radical left has reacted to the war in Ukraine in different political, geographical and cultural contexts. We are particularly interested in exploring the diversity of interpretations, discourses and strategic choices adopted by radical left actors globally, including both institutional parties and grassroots movements.

Bringing together scholars from different parts of the world, the event aims to promote a deeper understanding of how the conflict has challenged established ideological frameworks, reshaped internationalist solidarities, and brought to the fore both continuities and contradictions within left-wing political spaces.

Key Questions

- How have different traditions of the radical left interpreted and reacted to the war in Ukraine?

- How do radical left-wing parties manage to strike a balance between their ideological commitment to anti-militarism and international solidarity when faced with complex conflicts such as the war in Ukraine?

- What role do external factors, such as international media narratives, global public opinion and foreign relations, play in shaping the positions of radical left-wing parties on this conflict?

- How do internal party dynamics and local political contexts influence the responses of radical left-wing parties globally to economic sanctions, military aid and diplomacy related to the Ukraine crisis?

Other related or emerging ideas are also welcome.

Submission Guidelines:

Please send your abstract (250-300 words) of your proposal in PDF or Word to:
jean-michel.de.waele@ulb.be by 26 October 2025 (23:59 CET).

The webinar is organized by the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Cevipol).

Scientific Committee:

Jean-Michel De Waele, Université Libre de Bruxelles – Cevipol
Jacopo Viti, PhD candidate in Political Science, Université Libre de Bruxelles – Cevipol
Gianmarco Bucci, PhD candid