Premise: yesterday - Monday 4 July 2022 - it opened just in Lugano the International Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.
The actors, who came from all over the world, sit at the same table to elaborate “the Marshall Plan of Eastern Europe”, in which the reconstruction passes through a wide-ranging political and diplomatic process.
With Professor Jean-Patrick Villeneuve, of USI, we try to investigate various aspects of the question, including the role that the academic world assumes in this juncture.
An expert on the issues of transparency, anti-corruption and accountability, Villeneuve focused in particular on the issue of the challenges, limitations and impact of these governance initiatives.

Professor Jean-Patrick Villeneuve, what is the role of the academic world in the face of a situation like that of Ukraine?

The roles are manifold. First, each academic discipline must apply its own analytical grids, theories and methodologies to try to make sense of the situation. In the case of the Institute of Communication and Public Policy (ICPP), this means using public administration, political science, international relations and intercultural communication to analyze and understand the present from different angles, but also to try to shape and form prepare for the future.
A second element, equally important today, is support for Ukrainian researchers. Through the program Scholar at Risk and the International Relations and Mobility Service of USI, the Institute welcomed two Ukrainian scholars. In this way, they will be able to continue their research work, temporarily, at USI.
Thanks to this initiative, we are able to carry out research projects and activities that address the Ukrainian situation, exploring and preparing a path for the future, in the very spirit of the International Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.

How can it help the public administration in the current situation?

Public administration is a relatively "practical" discipline, with a strong link with institutions. It analyzes the development, dissemination and impact of public policies and the management of public institutions. Consequently, we do not so much analyze the "whys" of the current situation, nor the strategies for achieving lasting peace, but rather the conditions under which Ukraine can "get back on its feet" and move forward.

What we are focusing on, in line with ongoing research projects, has two distinct dynamics:

With the help of a new scholar, Dr. Demyan Belyaev, we will extend our research on the dynamics of corruption to the Ukrainian context. We believe this is an essential aspect to consider in order to arrive at a reconstruction process that is effective, impactful and politically supported. This is crucial for Ukraine. A better government structure will, in fact, be an essential condition imposed by lenders from all over the world. This type of research will be an extension of ongoing projects within the ICPP funded by the Swiss National Fund for Scientific Research (FNS), the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and other entities such as Transparency International (YOU).
In line with another project funded by the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), we will also address the issue of stakeholder participation in various good governance processes, in particular those related to post-conflict reconstruction. Who should have a say and how these voices should be heard.
Before the war, Ukraine was facing difficult realities in terms of governance, but since 2011 it has become a member of the Open Government Partnership. So, undoubtedly, there is the desire and the will to make progress in this area. We need to make sure this process does not stall in the face of current challenges and help, as academics, provide solutions and identify potential pitfalls.

What has happened so far?

In recent months we have organized a conference, with the participation of ASIS Svizzera Italiana and START InSight. "From Washington to the war in Ukraine, the dimension of disinformation". It was an opportunity to discuss disinformation, cybersecurity, and the new horizons of radicalization and extremism. All issues that directly concern the current situation in Ukraine, and that are also linked to other USI initiatives such as the MEM or the conference cycles of PEN.
During the last year, Afghanistan, another country facing a problematic situation, has also been at the center of the Institute's activities, in particular with the arrival of another scholar at risk, Parwiz Mosamim, which is analyzing the status of women in Afghan public administrations.

What would you ask for?

Let us start planning the "after" now. The Lugano conference is a significant step in this direction. May a diversity of voices be heard in the reconstruction. May all the potential of Ukrainians be mobilized, inside and outside the country. Let science, research, know-how, and not just politics and power relations, become part of the equation. For the moment? For the time being, this means improving funding mechanisms such as Scholars at Risk. It means defining and launching new funding mechanisms for research in order to have the necessary resources to face the myriad of challenges that await us. If we are to be ready, the work must begin now!