Dr. Olena Bordilovska
IAFIE Intelligence Education Interview Series - Dr. Olena Bordilovska
Interviewer: Andrea Bardazzi
Table of Contents:
Question 1). Olena, let’s start from the basics. How would you like to present yourself to the International Association For Intelligence Education (IAFIE)?
Question 2). What is your professional background, and what were the early steps in your career that led you into the field of international security and academia?
Question 3). How is the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine impacting your daily life, both personally and professionally, as a professor?
Question 4). What strategic and geopolitical lessons do you believe the academic world can draw from this conflict? Academia often tends to remain detached from international politics; do you think this approach is appropriate in these circumstances? What can the international academic community do to support Ukraine?
Question 5). How has your personal experience of living through a war shaped your views on security, intelligence, and geopolitics? In what ways do you think this will influence the future of academic research and teaching in higher education?
Question 6). How do you see the future of higher education in Ukraine, and how should educators orient themselves?
Question 7). What is the work you believe is most representative of your professional life and what the future analysts, researchers, and intelligence practitioners can learn from it?
Question 8). What suggestions would you give to the new analysts and the younger generation?
Question 9). How can our readers follow you?
Question 10). Five keywords that represent you?
Interview Introduction: In this insightful and compelling interview for the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE), international security and education expert Dr. Olena Bordilovska shares her unique insights and personal experiences in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. As head of the New Challenges Department at the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Kiev, Dr. Bordilovska advises Ukraine's highest academic levels. Dr. Bordilovska's career spans academia and diplomacy, with a focus on South Asian politics and Ukraine's geopolitical interests. Her extensive education includes a Ph.D. in Indology and a Ph.D. in Political Science, making her an influential voice in, but not limited to her field. Her background is matched only by the call to educational mission that shines through in these lines. The interview delves into the profound impact the Russian invasion has had on her daily life and professional responsibilities. Despite ongoing threats and challenges, Dr. Bordilovska remains dedicated to her work, working to strengthen Ukraine's international relations and counter Russian propaganda. This interview offers a rare glimpse into the resilience and determination of a nation under siege, as seen through the eyes of one of its most dedicated scholars. Dr. Bordilovska's story is not only one of survival but also of the relentless pursuit of truth and justice in the face of adversity, an inspiring theme for the mission of all those who, like us at IAFIE, are concerned with intelligence and education.
Interviewer: Question 1). Olena, let’s start from the basics. How would you like to present yourself to the International Association For Intelligence Education (IAFIE)?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: Doctor Olena Bordilovska, Ph.D. (History), Doctor Hab. (Political Science), currently - a Head of Department (New Challenges), The National Institute for Strategic Studies, Kyiv, Ukraine. This is a premier governmental think-tank responsible for strategy and advice to the Office of the President, National Security Council, and Intelligence Services.
Interviewer: Question 2). What is your professional background, and what were the early steps in your career that led you into the field of international security and academia?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: I graduated from the History Faculty, of Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University – the number 1 educational institution in Ukraine, and did my Ph.D. there as well. My research area is Indology, it was a new field for research and study when Ukraine became independent in 1991, so there was a huge demand for specialists in Oriental studies in those times. Soon, I joined the Institute of Oriental studies by A. Krymskyi at the Academy of Science of Ukraine, where my Ph.D. defense ceremony was provided (Topic of my research related to the history of Medieval India, 7th century Harshwardhan Empire). Hereafter, I got a proposal to join another Kyiv Taras Shevchenko university branch – The Institute of International Relations (IIR) and did the main steps of my professional career there – from researcher to associate professor, dealing primarily with politics in South Asia, Ukraine-India and Ukraine-Pakistan relationship and geopolitical interests of Ukraine. I finished my post-doctorate studies in 2011 there and my second thesis was related to the foreign policy of the Republic of India. My area of interest has been widening to so so-called “Asian century.” I visited India many times, as well as Pakistan and Chin,a and created professional connections with academia there. Also, I was busy with international cooperation between the IIR and other universities in Europe and Asia, participated at different conferences, and delivered lectures on Geopolitics and Foreign Policy of Ukraine abroad. While teaching, I was also busy with some basic courses like Ukraine in Eastern Europe, think tanks in international relations, Foreign policy of Asian nations, etc. As I am fluent in Hindi and Urdu, and I have some professional background, it made it possible to develop new contacts easily and to provide a accurate understanding of Ukraine in South Asia. In 2019, I shifted to the diplomatic service and took a chance to join the Embassy of Ukraine in Pakistan – an amazing option that applied my knowledge into practice. Now coming back to Ukraine, I am working mostly on the problems and perspectives of the relationship between Ukraine and the so-called Global South (GS), and India as a voice of GS. The main focus now is to improve Ukraine’s collaboration with various nations of the GS, to combat Russian propaganda, and to explain the real logic of war.
Interviewer: Question 3). How is the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine impacting your daily life, both personally and professionally, as a professor?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: The Russian full-scale invasion has changed my life dramatically. In February 2022, I was in Pakistan and from the very beginning of the aggression I worked hard on explaining to the local experts, media, and public the real character of this unprovoked invasion. I left Islamabad at the end of May (my mission was over) and came to Austria to join a part of my family. As every family in Ukraine suffers from this aggression, mine also was not excluded. My pregnant daughter-in-law left Ukraine and came to Austria, this state as many other European nations supported Ukraine a lot. She gave birth to a baby girl, and after 1 month, we all returned to Ukraine, where my son stayed (because of Martial Law, he could not leave).
So, since August 2022, we survived somehow all these alerts, attacks, and blackouts, and we were always in trouble - Is everything OK with family members, friends, and colleagues?. We can’t sleep properly, we can’t plan something, and sometimes we can’t even reach the office during the air alert (I live on another bank of the river, and I can’t cross the river; the bridges are closed for security reasons). Life in Kyiv is not very safe, still manageable, we can use metro stations as shelters, and we have a good anti-missile air defense system here. But people who live near the state border and front line suffer a lot indeed, their lives became miserable.
Ukraine has a crisis in every possible sphere – education, ecology, economy, agriculture, and demography, with millions of refugees inside the country and 7 million people left. Thousands of our children were stolen by Russia; a lot of civilians lost their houses and jobs. Small towns and villages near the front line have been totally destroyed. And, of course, we lost our brave fighters, the best citizens of Ukraine, killed by Russian weapons. This is a tragedy for the nation, and every one of us lives in an atmosphere of sorrow. At these “dark times,” we must be united and support each other, and it is exactly what we try to do. We continue to fight because in the case that we stop fighting – there will be no Ukraine, no future for us and our children. We continue to perform our duties; every one of us is very tired from one point of view and yet have become stronger at the same time - this is the phenomena of the war. Personally, I go to the Institute daily, from time to time, deliver my lectures, work with media, and take part in different events, local and international. I understand my mission now as the most important one, as I take every opportunity to tell the truth about the Russia-Ukraine War to the people from the US to Nepal. I perform my duties and try my best to pretend that there is no war. Sounds a bit surrealistic, still, this is our life and our struggle for independence.
Interviewer: Question 4). What strategic and geopolitical lessons do you believe the academic world can draw from this conflict? Academia often tends to remain detached from international politics; do you think this approach is appropriate in these circumstances? What can the international academic community do to support Ukraine?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: Academia should be more intertwined with international politics, a theory has to be approved by real events, and strategies become more effective after practice and lessons learned from reality, I believe. In fact, there are some really important lessons the academic world, not only politicians and diplomats, can draw from the Russia-Ukraine war:
- Don’t overestimate major powers (The case of Russia, which is not strong and powerful enough - despite the Kremlin’s proclamation “to take Kyiv in 3 days,” they are still trying to win in Ukraine for almost 3 years);
- Don’t underestimate someone’s ambitions at the same time, they could be really dangerous (again, the case of the Russian Federation and all her crimes committed), and don’t misuse the information that seems to be too unreal (the case of Ukraine’s mistake – no one anticipated a full-scale invasion);
- Don’t count on partners’ support mainly (could be a point of political discussion – the case of the US; and concerns, even rivalry – The GB and EU case), create your own capacity to be ready for defense, still work on the strong guarantees of your security (not like Budapest Memorandum in 1994);
- Remember the principles of real politics: the national interest is always the priority for every state, especially when all the international rules and laws are violated; and be sure - unfortunately, there is no place for morality in politics;
- Finally, we have to accept that the price for independence is always very high. Ukraine is late with the payment (because of many different factors, internal and external), and our price has become twice as high by now.
Interviewer: Question 5). How has your personal experience of living through a war shaped your views on security, intelligence, and geopolitics? In what ways do you think this will influence the future of academic research and teaching in higher education?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: Well, I think it is about diversification of the ways and methods of teaching, studying and analyzing, both technically and strategically. We have to manage the most effective approach, with the combination of online and offline communication, keeping official meetings and discussions “off-records,” if possible. I guess every opportunity is valuable; sometimes, even a short conversation can bring you a perfect understanding of the issue. At least, my diplomatic experience taught me a lot about communication, I learned that even unpleasant moments could be very helpful for some consideration. The same is true with the teaching process: you may provide a lecture in a comfortable auditorium in a classical manner, but there are other options, off-standard - you can visit a veteran of politics or invite a former minister and spend an hour in the museum, garden or military base, and even the atmosphere of the meeting will help to understand some critical points better, I believe. This is exactly the lesson of the war we are experiencing now: you must catch a chance, to look for a new possibility and value classical options, all together. Don’t waste time; you never know what happens next.
Interviewer: Question 6). How do you see the future of higher education in Ukraine, and how should educators orient themselves?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: This is a good question. Right now, we have a lot of discussions in Ukraine on the further ways of optimization in the schools and universities. You may be aware that Ukraine is among one of the most well-educated nations in the world, and we are eager to keep this position. Not an easy task when you have a state at war, many schools and colleges are in ruins, and students have to be protected with shelters, etc. By now, we have obviously witnessed a lot of problems; still there is no decline in the educational system. So, with the support of our partners (e.g., The EU Horizon program, exchange projects, etc.), we can provide a high-standard education, I do hope – with our tradition, experience, and local talented people – both professors and students. I am quite optimistic in such a way.
Interviewer: Question 7). What is the work you believe is most representative of your professional life and what the future analysts, researchers, and intelligence practitioners can learn from it?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: If I understood the question correctly, I have a very good experience in analyzing the history and politics of South Asia (various aspects, from civilizational values to foreign policy and strategic cultures of India and Pakistan), and I am ready to share my knowledge. In a wider aspect, I can suggest my expertise on Ukraine’s geopolitics, Ukraine–Asia relations, and mutual interests of the GS and Ukraine.
Interviewer: Question 8). What suggestions would you give to the new analysts and the younger generation?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: Looking at the young generation of analysts, I often suggest them be a specialist, focus on what you really know and want to know even better; don’t comment on every possible (or impossible!) issue, be serious in your study and research. Do not hesitate to ask questions and take good advice; do not ignore people who have good knowledge and practice in your field of expertise. All technical privileges you have now should be used correctly – check the information you found at least twice. And three times, think about what information could be shared!
Interviewer: Question 9). How can our readers follow you?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: I cannot provide all my research openly, but readers can find a lot of my papers and parts of the textbook on the internet (f.e. try Ukrainian Indologist Bordilovska), you may also follow my publication at the National Institute for Strategic Studies (Bordilovska NISS) and at my Facebook page, Olena Bordilovska, and always can send me a message via Facebook with questions or proposals.
Interviewer: Question 10). Five keywords that represent you?
Dr. Olena Bordilovska: Looks like I am hard-working, responsible, knowledge-sharing, helpful, and tolerant. Thank you!