Greta Uehling
Cultural Anthropologist
Greta Uehling is a cultural anthropologist with three decades of experience working in Ukraine. Her latest book, Decolonizing Ukraine, provides a window on Russia’s occupation of Crimea, shedding light on the little-known contribution of Indigenous people to Ukraine’s ability to repel Russia. A professor at the University of Michigan, Uehling teaches for the Program in International and Comparative Studies.
Available Now
Decolonizing Ukraine takes an unblinkered view of of the war on Ukraine through the voices of some of the people most affected. The book explains the logic of Russia’s occupation of Ukraine and the sources of Ukrainian resilience. Here the Indigenous people have played a key, although little known role, providing the the moral justification – and the blueprints – for reintegrating formerly occupied territories into Ukraine.
Early Praise
“Greta Uehling manages to cover, in one sweep, many of the most pressing issues in the
interpretation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. This book is a must-read for everybody interested in the interplay between Ukrainian domestic affairs, Crimean Tatar history, and Russian neo-imperialism since 1991.”
—Andreas Umland, Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies
“Twenty years after her first book, Uehling follows up with her interlocutors. This time, Crimea – occupied – is a different place and Crimean Tatars – dispersed and oppressed – offer a new story of resilience, resistance, and forbearance. In her nuanced, sensitive, and eloquent way, Uehling shares these Indigenous voices and raises important questions of recognition, Indigenous rights, and decoloniality.”
—Mariia Shynkarenko, Institute for Human Studies
“Greta Uehling’s captivating storytelling provides poignant insights into the experiences of the people of Crimea, both those who fled Russian occupation, and those who remain on the peninsula. Her rich, ethnographically-grounded account illuminates constructions of indigeneity, homeland, national belonging, and the challenges of decolonization and war.”
—Laada Bilaniuk, University of Washington
