The Birch 2025

The 2024-2025 academic year marked a period of unprecedented growth for The Birch. In the past year alone we have received nearly seven times more submissions than during the 2023-2024 academic year, and we have accordingly increased our volume of publications. The launch of our online journal Slova has also allowed us to spotlight more remarkable undergraduate work and increase the accessibility of our publications. We are greatly indebted to all those who submitted to our journal and encouraged by the expanding interest in our project. Our editors fielded work from students representing almost 40 different universities from four continents and demonstrating a wide diversity in thought, discipline, and regional interest. War, democratic backsliding, political turmoil, disinformation, and other crises which have plagued Eastern Europe over the past years have no doubt prompted this widespread interest in our project.

The Birch has become an increasingly critical platform for inquiry and debate as scholars search for ways to respond to ongoing instability and turmoil. Our staff, who have worked tirelessly to produce this journal, deserve endless thanks. Their expertise, initiative, and dedication continue to define the success of The Birch’s mission. We are additionally grateful for the extensive work of our writers and the continuous support of our readers. We hope you enjoy this 2025 edition of The Birch!

Karel Ruiz and Shiori Horton

Editors-in-Chief of The Birch Journal