The Russian invasion of Ukraine has revealed an apparent disunity in Europe. This was evident during a June 2022 study abroad program in Lithuania, where Ukrainian flags and “Slava Ukraini” were everywhere, compared to Germany where only a single Ukrainian flag was seen. Lithuanian politicians and advisors would constantly bring up the conflict and their fears of a Russian invasion of their own country. In Germany, the only time the war was mentioned was in reference to the economy or looming gas crisis, and only when the subject was intentionally brought up. These observations were further confirmed by data from Eurobaromter public opinion polls. This research project attempts to understand what influences these differences in public opinion and the resulting foreign policy of each country, focusing on the impact of past military conflict. Lithuania has a history of Russian/Soviet occupation and therefore has a shared memory and identity with Ukraine. On the other hand, Germany has a history of being an aggressor and is hesitant to engage in any aspect of the conflict for fear of stirring uncomfortable memories of its authoritarian past. This context is crucial for understanding the disparities in public opinion poll data and why Germany seems to be less willing to engage in the conflict in any capacity than Lithuania. As such, each country’s response to the war in Ukraine is simply representative of their unique history, collective identity, and shared memory.
Author(s): Ashley Morris, Anthropology and International Studies Major
Advisor(s): Neringa Klumbytė, Department of Anthropology
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