What sociology can do in wartime. The resilience and dynamism of Ukrainian sociologists

Abstract

What can sociology do in times of war? Is it still useful to conduct sociological research when immediate solidarity is needed? Drawing on wartime Ukraine and informed by insights from Palestine and the Philippines, this article reviews some crucial roles played by sociology in wartime: making sense of rapid social transformations, bearing witness to violence, and sustaining democratic horizons. Since 2022, Ukrainian sociologists have continued to document fast changes in everyday life and society, civic engagement, values, resilience, and war crimes. Insightful epistemological discussions have arisen on the conditions, limits, and responsibilities of knowledge production in wartime, addressing the tensions between scientific rigour and civic commitment and the ethical demands of research. By foregrounding the experience of sociology in a society under existential threat, the article invites international dialogue and mutual learning on the public, ethical, and democratic responsibilities of sociology in wartime.