RUTA Board of Representatives Elections: Call for Nominees!

Are you a scholar interested reclaiming and promoting Central, South-Eastern, and Eastern European, Baltic, Caucasus, Central and Northern Asian studies in Global Conversation? 

Nominate yourself or your colleague to become one of five members of RUTA’s Board of Representatives. This is your chance to contribute to the growth of this Ukraine-based, transregional association that promotes critical research on ongoing imperial and colonial legacies. RUTA grows from epistemic communities and solidarity networks formed in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and builds on the knowledge, scholarly traditions, and expertise of scholars, artists and social justice advocates. The Association strives to lead and amplify debates on issues concerning the region(s), making them accessible to local scholars and strengthening their connections with academics and institutions globally. RUTA promotes critical research on ongoing imperial and colonial legacies that have shaped the region(s), relying on the expertise and experiences of affected societies and stimulating social responsibility.

We are looking for candidates from diverse academic and socio-cultural backgrounds based in, or working on, the RUTA region(s), who are keen to join us in supporting and advancing RUTA’s overarching aims and mission. Independent scholars and practitioners outside academia are very welcome. 

The Board of Representatives plays both a representative and executive role in RUTA’s organisational structure. Its main tasks are the planning of the annual conference, fundraising, the conceptual guidance of RUTA’s development, book and article prize selection, community building, and public relations. Additionally, the board will have the authority to set up its own agenda and task list, as well as to form task-specific committees of volunteers. Read more about the role of RUTA’s Board of Representatives in our Constitution.

RUTA’s Board of Representatives will be selected via a two-stage process:

1)      RUTA members will vote online between 15-20 June 2025 on all nominated candidates.

2)      The RUTA Election Committee (composed of RUTA Advisory Board members) will select five members for the Board of Representatives from those who received  the highest number of votes in the elections. The selected members have to represent (i.e. work on, come from, be based in) five broadly defined RUTA regions and all five regions must have representation in the Board of Representatives. The Election Committee will make their decision from 21-27 June 2025. The results will be announced on 29 June 2025, the last day of the RUTA Conference 2025.

Please complete the form by 10 June 2025. Your bio and motivation statement will be shared only with RUTA voters and the Election Committee, and will not be made public.