Synopses & Reviews
Review
"The book contains considerable material useful in understanding the situation in Ukraine in the late 1980's and early 1990's." The Harriman Review"The author shows in a clear and effective manner how the legacy of division in Ukrainian society has severely limited the development of Ukrainian nationalism in the 1990s. The author's brief descriptions of Ukrainian history and philosophical traditions are well-written and cruicial to the explantion of the present-day situation in the nationalist camp. However, the meat of Wilson's book lies in his analysis of the rise of the national revival movement in the 1990s and, most interestingly, its base of support and consequntial domestic and foreign policy platforms." Nancy Popson, Nationalities Papers"Overall, Wilson's book is scholarly effort. Impressively researched...The volume is well written, lucidly argued and logically structured...the book offers a remarkable insight into both Ukrainian nationalism and the polarization of Ukrain in the 1990's." Can Slavonic Papers
Synopsis
The complex interrelationship between Russia and Ukraine is arguably the most important single factor in determining the future politics of the Eurasian region. In this book Andrew Wilson examines the phenomenon of Ukrainian nationalism and its influence on the politics of independent Ukraine, arguing that historical, ethnic and linguistic factors limit the appeal of narrow ethno-nationalism, even to many ethnic Ukrainians. Nevertheless, ethno-nationalism has a strong emotive appeal to a minority, who may therefore undermine Ukraine's attempts to construct an open civic state. Ukraine is therefore a fascinating test case for alternative nation-building strategies in countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Table of Contents
1. Ukraine: historical roots of diversity; 2. Ukrainian nationalism in the modern era; 3. Channels of nationalist discourse: political parties, civil society; 4. National communism; 5. A minority faith: the limits to nationalist support; 6. The nationalist agenda: domestic politics, Ukrainianisation and the state; 7. The nationalist agenda: external affairs - untying the Russian knot; 8. Conclusions: Nationalism and national consolidation.