Russian-Ukrainian Crisis, National Identity and Democratic Consolidation in Ukraine (original) (raw)
In 2016, Ukraine faces multiple problems in terms of its divided identity, corrupted elites, poor economy and hostile Russia on its eastern borders. Proper understanding of Ukrainian complex identity-building process requires some familiarity with history of the USSR and its management of nationalities, although, certainly Ukraine had possessed a huge historical legacy long before the USSR and that also had influenced its cultural memory. Ukraine can be compared with many other post-communist states that these days are divided between Soviet mentality and modern nation-building but it is also sort of unique because of its geographical position on the crossroads of Western and Russian civilizational influences. Geopolitics has always been important to Ukraine's national identification. However, it should not imply that Ukraine has been only an object of contestation between Russia and the EU and not an actor on its own as some neo-realists would say as, for example, John Mearsheimer who has suggested it was West who provoked Russia's aggression to maintain its sphere of influence in Ukraine. 1 Geopolitics is certainly important to Ukrainian future but it is still not as decisive as domestic politics and reforms that country has been undergoing since Euromaidan. Russia's involvement in modern Ukraine has been contradictory to say the least and it is hard not to give acknowledgement to Ukrainian nation for finally rejecting Russian paternalism and cultural influence that under Vladimir Putin has obtained neo-imperialist and authoritarian colors. After all, Russia had supported pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarchs from
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