Reviews of Ambicoloniality and War: The Ukrainian–Russian Case (Palgrave Macmillan 2025)
“Svitlana Biedarieva’s Ambicoloniality and War is one of those books which does something so obviously needed that one can only wonder why somebody didn’t write a book like this years ago. In her complex analysis of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, there is one terminological operation that immediately catches the eye: the use of the term “coloniality.” Even those who were critical of how Russia, the Soviet Union, China, or Vietnam treat their neighbours were reluctant to designate them as “(neo)colonial.” It was silently presumed that “colonialism” is something the big Western powers were doing (and are still doing at the level of economy), while the ongoing imperial expansion of Russia is described in different terms. This introduction of a term, till now reserved for the “bad” West, changes everything. Biedarieva’s book is obligatory reading for those who want to gain a cognitive mapping of our terrible global reality.” Slavoj Žižek, Professor of Philosophy at the European Graduate School, International Director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities
“As timely as it is profound. Svitlana Biedarieva brings Ukrainian culture and society to the fore to challenge and transform established approaches to the relationship between coloniality, postcoloniality, and decolonization. An essential read for understanding the cultural contexts and implications of the Russo-Ukrainian War.” Serhii Plokhy, the author of “The Russo-Ukrainian War,” Mykhailo Hrushevsky Professor of Ukrainian History, Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute
“Svitlana Biedarieva’s book is the most impressive, both stunningly erudite and deeply felt contribution to the field of colonial studies. Written from the perspective of the participant observer, she not only offers a groundbreaking and long-overdue theoretical concept of ambicoloniality, applied to countries sharing borders and cultures, but also introduces the reader to a fascinating range of contemporary Ukrainian artworks that respond to the horrors of the Russian invasion. This is essential reading for colonial studies, as well as art history and cultural studies.” Katarzyna Murawska-Muthesius, Honorary Research Fellow in History of Art, Birkbeck, University of London
“Firstly, Ambicoloniality and War not only speaks about Ukraine in a Ukrainian voice to the world, but also weaves the country’s history into the broader narrative of colonial relations. The book does more than simply question the declining explanatory power of decolonial theories in relation to Ukraine and the need for a modified methodology; it offers a new analytical framework. Secondly, addressing Ukrainian readers as well, the book offers answers to a number of difficult and often sensitive questions, presenting certain phenomena from a new perspective while also provoking further reflection. This, ultimately, convinces us that the book should be translated into Ukrainian as soon as possible – so that the discussion may continue and, perhaps, lead to the emergence of truth.” Natalya Kobchenko, Professor in Ukrainian Language at National University “Kyiv–Mohyla Academy. Read the full review: “Ukraine–Russia Relations: Case Study or Challenge for Decolonial Theory? Review of: Biedarieva, Svitlana. Ambicoloniality and War: The Ukrainian-Russian Case. Palgrave Macmillan Cham, 2025,” Language: Classic – Modern – Postmodern, Issue 11 (2025): 227–237.
Svitlana Biedarieva 