Book Review: From Periphery to Partnership: Ukraine’s Socio-Economic Transformation

The publication From Periphery to Partnership: Ukraine’s Socio‑Economic Transformation, edited by Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast, Sławomir Kamosiński, Konrad Walerski and published in 2026, examines Ukraine’s social, economic, and political transformation under wartime conditions. The book argues that Ukraine is moving from a position of dependence toward a partnership with Europe based on cooperation and integration. Russian aggression has accelerated modernisation processes, although they remain uneven and shaped by war, geopolitical pressures, and infrastructural destruction. The authors present Ukraine as an increasingly important European actor, particularly in security and EU integration. The volume also highlights the role of migration, reforms, and every day wartime experiences. Overall, Ukraine is portrayed not only as a country in crisis but as a dynamic space of change, where war simultaneously drives modernisation and deeper European integration.