Katerina Sviderska

King's College
  • PhD student

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About

Born in Kherson, I grew up in Montreal, Canada. I hold a B.Sc. in International Studies from Université de Montréal and an M.Sc. in Political Science from the same institution. I also did a student exchange at SciencesPo Paris. My research interests focus on nationalism and memory studies, particularly in Eastern Europe. My master's thesis examined Russian historical myths about Ukraine, while my broader work explores nation-building, everyday nationalism, memory and identity politics. A firm believer in the transformative power of education, I have held various research, teaching, and mentoring positions throughout my studies and collaborated with multiple human rights and cultural preservation organizations in Ukraine. I am also an active member of the Student Intersectorial Committee of the Quebec Research Council (Fonds de Recherche du Québec), where I contribute to bettering conditions of academic work for emerging scholars. 

Supervisor: Rory Finnin

Scholarships/Prizes: 

•    2024-2028 - Gates Cambridge Scholarship, University of Cambridge

•    2024 - Quebec Finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship, University of Oxford

•    2024 - Edouard-Montpetit-Manuvie Excellence Scholarship, Université de Montréal

•    2023-2024 - Master’s Research Scholarship, Quebec Research Council

•    2020-2024 Mention of Excellence, Université de Montréal

Publications: 

Peer-reviewed

Sviderska, Katerina. 2024. Book review. “Varieties of Nationalism: Communities, Narratives, Identities, de Harris Mylonas et Maya Tudor, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2023, 83 p.”. Politique et Sociétés 43/2. https://doi.org/10.7202/1114888ar Media

Sviderska, Katerina. 2024. ‘For Ukraine, We Need Solidarity between Ottawa and Brussels’. The Hill Times, 6 November 2024. 

Sviderska, Katerina. 2024. ‘10 ans de guerre en Ukraine : la liberté ou la mort’ [10 years of war in Ukraine : freedom or death]. La Presse. 

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘Le Canada Doit Soutenir l’intégration de l’Ukraine Dans l’OTAN’ [Canada Must Support Ukraine’s NATO Integration]. Le Devoir, 11 July 2023.

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘Canada Must Support Ukraine’s NATO Integration’. The Hill Times, 10 July 2023. 

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘Destruction Du Barrage de Kakhovka : Qui Ne Dit Mot Consent’ [Destruction of the Kakhova Dam : Who Says Nothing Agrees]. La Presse, 9 June 2023. 

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘Ukraine : Entre Génocide et Natiocide’ [Ukraine : Between Genocide and Natiocide]. La Presse, 1 May 2023.

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘Les Enfants Ukrainiens, Trophées de Guerre Russes’ [Ukrainian Children : Russian War Trophies]. La Presse, 22 March 2023. 

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘The Womanly Face of the War in Ukraine’. The Toronto Star, 10 March 2023. 

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘Manifestations En Géorgie : Il a Toujours Été Question de l’Europe’ [Protests in Georgia : It Has Always Been About Europe]. La Presse, 10 March 2023. 

Sviderska, Katerina. 2023. ‘La Guerre a Un Visage de Femme’ [The War Has A Womanly Face]. La Presse, 22 February 2023. 

 

Research

My thesis explores memorialization processes in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2014, Ukraine has experienced a surge in different commemorative activities. Distinguishing between memorialization during the war and memorialization of the war, my project focuses on the latter. I thus propose to analyse the role of various actors in these memorial processes, particularly examining how they shape and transform the policies that will define the country’s future history. I also seek to understand how these processes impact the formation of collective identities at local, regional and national levels.