Everyday War: The Conflict over Donbas, Ukraine

Everyday War by Greta Uehling provides an accessible lens to understand what noncombatant civilians go through in a country at war, such as sending a child to school across a minefield or the men who belong to groups of volunteer body collectors. It explores a constellation of social practices where ethics of care were in operation and people were drawn into the conflict in an everyday form of war.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Everyday War offers a valuable perspective on the experiences of noncombatant civilians in a country embroiled in conflict. It delves into the minds of mothers who must navigate perilous minefields to send their children to school, as well as the men who risk their lives to collect the bodies of fallen soldiers. In the context of Ukraine, these questions have become an integral part of daily life, forcing individuals to confront the harsh realities of war.

Greta Uehling's book explores the lives of ordinary people living in and around the armed conflict in Donbas, which began in 2014. Through her engaging narrative, Uehling challenges conventional notions of war and highlights the incomplete nature of our understanding of these conflicts.

In Ukraine, the devastating landscapes of death and destruction have brought attention to the vulnerability of human beings and the urgent need for cultivating everyday, interpersonal peace. Uehling examines a constellation of social practices where ethics of care are actively at work, fostering connections and understanding between individuals.

Furthermore, the conflict in Ukraine has taken on an everyday form, with people engaging in various acts of war. They provide fighters with military equipment they have purchased themselves, smuggle insulin to those in need, and cut ties with former friends who have taken opposing sides. Each chapter of the book focuses on a different site where care can either promote interpersonal peace or its antithesis, everyday war.

By drawing from the fields of political geography, international relations, peace and conflict studies, and anthropology, Everyday War offers a comprehensive examination of where peace can be cultivated at the individual and community levels. It sheds light on the complexities of conflict, the role of ordinary people in shaping its outcomes, and the potential for building bridges and fostering understanding in the face of adversity.

Through its powerful storytelling and insightful analysis, Everyday War provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the human cost of war and the urgent need for peacebuilding efforts. It serves as a reminder that peace cannot be achieved solely through military means but requires the cultivation of empathy, compassion, and understanding between people from different backgrounds and walks of life.

Weight: 338g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501768484