Up to today the realities in Post-Soviet space are defined by the search for state and national identity in contrast to the former peripheral existence during the Soviet past. From the very beginning of their independence the newly independent states were afflicted with different problems resulting from the ambiguous situation of quasi sovereignty but still strictly Moscow centralised rule. A regime change always demands great flexibility in ideas of these who have to deal with the remains of the past and the results of the breakdown in order to find an adequate approach to the new realities.
It is therefore not astonishing that in account to the various economic and social constraints in the different Newly Independent States, each was in search of its own way to deal with the problems of state-building, acceptance of the international community and Russia’s attempts to dominate the former sphere of influence.
The analysis will deal with the special case of Ukraine's emancipation from the USSR heritage and the historic dominance of an imperial Russia. The focus of analysis will be put on the processes of state-identity building in the framework of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), Western Europe and the EU, as well as the context of Russian foreign policy towards the ‘Near Abroad’. The subject is especially relevant today, since a wave of ‘colourful’ revolutions has taken place on the territories of some former Soviet republics in the past to years, showing that the political processes of forming a nation are still hard to predict in that region.
The important change that goes on in the former Soviet republics, including Ukraine, is the transition from the main foreign policy objective of the 1990s – either to escape from Russia or to stay. Now, the question seems to be: ‘Where to go?’. Ukraine, during the events of November-December 2004, the so-called “Orange Revolution”, seems to have chosen a new quality of nation state identity – the Euro-Atlantic orientation in the international arena.
In the following work, Ukrainian state identity building in the sphere of influence of two major world powers, the European Union and Russia, will be in the focus of social and political analysis. The approach is aiming at developing a better understanding of the Ukrainian situation which can be metaphorically be described as that of a “shock absorber” between Russia and the European Union (EU) in many perspectives.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Relevance
1.2. Methodology of Analysis
2. Ukraine after 1990 – Defining a Theoretical Approach to the State-Building Process
2.1. Obstacles to the Applicability of a Realist Approach
2.2. Feasibility of Institutionalist Thinking
2.3. Constructivism as an Approach to State Building in Post-Soviet Space
2.3.1. Constructivism and International Relations (IR) Theory
2.3.2. Shaping National Identity – A Constructivist Approach
2.3.3. Meanings of Constructivist Theory for Ukraine
2.4. The Influence of Foreign Policy on State Identity-Building
3. Ukrainian History – A Point to Start
3.1. The Use of History as an Identity-Producing Instrument in Ukraine
3.2. Religion and Cossack Culture under Pressure between East and West (10th to 17th Century)
3.3. Commonness and Distinctiveness in Ukrainian-Russian Identity
3.4. The 20th Century – Corner Stones for Ukrainian National Independence
3.5. Conclusions from History
4. Ukraine’s Way to Statehood and National Identity Definition after 1991 – A Battle Field of European and Russian Interests
4.1. Domestic Conditions for Developing a State Identity
4.1.1. The Ethnic Composition of Ukraine as a Precondition for Nation-Building Considerations
4.1.2. Dichotomy between Foreign Policy Orientations and Domestic Reforms
4.1.2.1. Foreign Policy as an Instrument of Identity Building in Ukraine
4.1.2.2. Development of the Political System and the Lack of Domestic Reorientation of Elites
4.1.3. Impacts of Economic Conditions on the Identity Building Processes
4.2. Security Constraints of Independent Ukraine in the 1990s
4.2.1. The Influence of Ethnic Composition on State Identity and Political Preferences
4.2.2. Obstacles to the “Zero-Option” Arrangement
4.2.2.1. Conflicts over the Black Sea Fleet and Crimea
4.2.2.2. The Nuclear Assets Crisis
4.2.2.3. The Implications of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
4.2.3. The Rationality of Ukrainian Defence Policy towards Russia
4.3. The Implications of Regime Preference on Foreign Policy Objectives and Identity Building
4.3.1. Perceptions and Reinterpretations of Historic Facts and their Implications for State Building Processes
4.3.2. The Decision on Regime Type as a Precondition for Foreign Policy Decisions
4.3.3. The World’s Reluctance to take Ukrainian Developments Serious
4.3.4. Ukraine in Search of New Alliances
4.3.4.1. The Mainstreams of Foreign Policy Orientations in the Ukrainian Political Arena
4.3.4.2. Schemes of Cooperation in Regional Structures
4.3.4.3. Cooperation in International Security Structures
4.4. The Theory of Foreign Policies’ Integrative Impacts on Identity Building – Failure or Success
5. Unexpected Bottom-up Democratisation in Ukraine and the Impacts on Foreign Relations
5.1. Political Realities at the Dawn of Revolution
5.1.1. Democratic Commitment of the Population
5.1.2. Factors Accelerating the Possibility of Political Change
5.2. Explanations for the Orange Revolution and its Problematic Outcomes
5.3. Ukraine After Power Change – A Country of Political Unrest
5.3.1. Domestic Crisis
5.3.1.1. Internal Struggles in the Orange Coalition
5.3.1.2. Struggles after Parliamentary Election of 2006
5.3.2. Impact of the Energy Security Issue
5.4. Transition from post-Soviet Legacy to New Democracy – A Stony Path to Integration
6. The European Unions Interests and Influence on Developments in Ukraine
6.1. Evolution of EU-Ukrainian Relations
6.1.1. Security Aspects
6.1.2. Assessment of EU-Ukrainian Cooperation and Agreements
6.1.3. Impacts of EU Enlargement
6.1.3.1. Economic Impacts
6.1.3.2. Development of Cooperation
6.2. The EU’s Relations with the Ukrainian “Orange” Government
6.2.1. The Action Plan (AP)
6.2.2. The 10-Point Letter Amending the Action Plan
6.3. Future Perspectives
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This master's thesis analyzes the process of Ukrainian state identity building following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It examines how Ukrainian political elites navigated the influence of the European Union and Russia to define a new national identity and statehood, particularly in the context of the Orange Revolution and subsequent political shifts.
- The theoretical framework of Constructivism in the post-Soviet space.
- The impact of historical narratives on modern Ukrainian identity and foreign policy.
- Domestic constraints, including ethnic composition and economic challenges, on state building.
- The influence of energy security issues and regional divisions on political decision-making.
- The development of relations between Ukraine and European structures, specifically the EU.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Relevance
Up to today the realities in Post-Soviet space are defined by the search for state and national identity in contrast to the former peripheral existence during the Soviet past. From the very beginning of their independence the newly independent states were afflicted with different problems resulting from the ambiguous situation of quasi sovereignty but still strictly Moscow centralised rule. A regime change always demands great flexibility in ideas of these who have to deal with the remains of the past and the results of the breakdown in order to find an adequate approach to the new realities.
Military withdrawal after the ‘zero-option’ decision, the big ethnic Russian populations in some of the successor states, the historic and economic interdependence with Russia, and her obvious attempts to dominate the new states on these grounds were most often perceived as a threat to their sovereignty. It is therefore not astonishing that in account to the various economic and social constraints in the different Newly Independent States (NIS), each was in search of its own way to deal with the problems of state-building, acceptance of the international community and Russia’s attempts to dominate the former sphere of influence.
This analysis will deal with the special case of Ukraine emancipating from the USSR heritage and the historic dominance of an imperial Russia. The focus of analysis will be put on the processes of state-identity building in the framework of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), Western Europe and the EU, as well as the context of Russian foreign policy towards the ‘Near Abroad’. The subject is especially relevant today, since a wave of ‘colourful’ revolutions has taken place on the territories of some former Soviet republics in the past to years, showing that the political processes of forming a nation are still hard to predict in that region.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the challenges faced by post-Soviet states and outlines the methodological focus on Constructivist theory for analyzing Ukraine's identity building.
2. Ukraine after 1990 – Defining a Theoretical Approach to the State-Building Process: Examines why Realist and Institutionalist theories are insufficient for understanding Ukraine’s situation and proposes an adapted Constructivist approach.
3. Ukrainian History – A Point to Start: Analyzes the role of historical narratives and religious/cultural heritage in shaping contemporary Ukrainian identity and their political instrumentalization.
4. Ukraine’s Way to Statehood and National Identity Definition after 1991 – A Battle Field of European and Russian Interests: Explores domestic conditions, ethnic composition, and foreign policy constraints that hindered the consolidation of a national identity in the 1990s.
5. Unexpected Bottom-up Democratisation in Ukraine and the Impacts on Foreign Relations: Discusses the Orange Revolution as a pivotal moment for democratic consolidation and its complex outcomes for domestic politics and foreign relations.
6. The European Unions Interests and Influence on Developments in Ukraine: Evaluates the evolution of EU-Ukrainian relations, focusing on security aspects, cooperation agreements, and the impact of EU enlargement.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, highlighting that while foreign policy was used to bolster state identity, the lack of domestic reform and the persistence of regional divisions remain the primary challenges.
Keywords
Ukraine, State Building, National Identity, Constructivism, Orange Revolution, Foreign Policy, Russia, European Union, Post-Soviet Space, Democracy, Energy Security, Geopolitics, Regionalism, Transition, Statehood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this research paper primarily about?
The paper explores the complexities of Ukrainian state building and the formation of a national identity after the collapse of the Soviet Union, specifically focusing on the influence of and relations with the European Union and Russia.
What are the central themes examined in this thesis?
Key themes include the impact of historical narratives on current identity, the role of ethnic and regional divisions, the influence of energy security on foreign policy, and the challenges of democratic consolidation.
What is the primary research question or objective?
The central objective is to analyze the effectiveness of the nation-building approaches taken by Ukrainian elites and to understand how these actors used foreign policy and identity construction to navigate between the spheres of influence of Europe and Russia.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author primarily employs Constructivist theory, specifically looking at how identities are socially constructed, and complements this with Institutionalist objectives to explain domestic and foreign policy decisions.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main sections elaborate on domestic obstacles, such as the ethnic composition and economic stagnation, the role of security constraints, the transition process after the Orange Revolution, and the ongoing relationship between Ukraine and the EU.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Primary keywords include State Building, National Identity, Constructivism, Orange Revolution, Foreign Policy, and European Union integration.
How does the author characterize the historical influence of Russia on Ukraine?
The author argues that while Ukraine and Russia share significant religious and cultural ties, these ties have often been instrumentalized by Russian imperial and Soviet agendas, which created a tension that Ukraine has struggled to decouple from.
What significance is given to the Orange Revolution?
The Orange Revolution is identified as a crucial "bottom-up" democratic awakening that highlighted the Ukrainian population's commitment to democratic values, even though the political elite subsequently struggled to maintain that momentum in policy.
How does the author view the future of EU-Ukrainian relations?
The author maintains that while the EU remains a primary model for integration and prosperity, membership is not an immediate prospect, and cooperation will likely continue to evolve through various neighborhood policies and specific agreements rather than full accession.
- Quote paper
- MA in European Studies Alexandra Weber (Author), 2006, Europe's Influence on Ukrainian State Building - A Struggle for Identity between Europe and Russia , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/70854
