Ukraine's ‘muddling through’: National identity and postcommunist transition

The paper argues that the profound identity split strongly influences Ukraine's postcommunist development, precluding effectively consolidation of any political system – either democratic or authoritarian. In most cases, the identity issue supersedes all other issues on the agendas of political parties and largely determines the character and results of electoral rivalry, and the way in which both domestic and international politics is viewed and articulated. The paper examines historical roots of competing identities in Ukraine, their essence and impact on two different visions of Ukrainian past, future, and “Ukrainianness” itself. The use and misuse of identity issues by Ukrainian authorities is a special concern of the paper that stresses the need of alternative policy aimed at a national reconciliation.

► Identity split inhibits consolidation of both authoritarianism and democracy in Ukraine.
► “Kievan Russia” myth hampers development of modern both Ukrainian and Russian nations.
► Ukraine is a battlefield of two national projects informed by two types of national identity.
► Incumbents suppress pro-Western “Ukrainian” identity and bet on pro-Russian “East Slavonic”.
► Civic Ukrainian identity should be promoted to Westernize/modernize the country.