The existence of nations is a complex interplay of structures and actions, not solely based on historical narratives.
Nation-building involves a delicate balance between ethnic identity and inclusivity to accommodate diverse populations.
Deep dives
Understanding the Origins of Nations
The lecture delves into the fundamental question of how nations come into existence by exploring the genesis of nations. It challenges the notion that nations have always existed as self-evident entities by examining the role of social forms in the creation of nations. The discussion highlights the complexity of nations claiming historical narratives and lays out the challenge of questioning established national stories.
Exploring Nation Building Stories
The podcast showcases various narratives regarding nation-building, focusing on the concept of regaining lost innocence or past glory. These narratives often depict a cycle of an idyllic past, a fall from grace, and the promise of a future redemption. The discussion also touches on the role of storytelling in shaping national identities and the way nations lay claim to historical accounts.
Critiquing Ethnic Nationalism
The episode delves into the debate surrounding ethnic nationalism, illustrating the tensions between defining a nation based on ethnicity or inclusivity. It presents contrasting viewpoints within Ukrainian history, addressing the challenges of creating a homogenous nation and accommodating diverse populations. The discourse highlights the intricate balance between ethnic identity and political pragmatism within nation-building efforts.
Political Dimension of Nationhood
The podcast emphasizes the political nature of nationhood, discussing how modernization and political commitments play essential roles in shaping national identities. It scrutinizes historical figures who influenced Ukrainian national ideology, revealing the interplay between personal backgrounds and nationalist perspectives. The episode concludes by reflecting on the lasting impact of these discussions in shaping contemporary perceptions of Ukrainian nationality.
Timothy Snyder is the Richard C. Levin Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. He speaks five and reads ten European languages.
Ukraine must have existed as a society and polity on 23 February 2022, else Ukrainians would not have collectively resisted Russian invasion the next day. What does it mean for a nation to exist? Is this a matter of structures, actions, or both? Why has the existence of Ukraine occasioned such controversy? In what ways are Polish, Russian, and Jewish self-understanding dependent upon experiences in Ukraine? Just how and when did a modern Ukrainian nation emerge? For that matter, how does any modern nation emerge? Why some and not others? Can nations be chosen, and can choices be decisive? If so, whose, and how? Ukraine was the country most touched by Soviet and Nazi terror: what can we learn about those systems, then, from Ukraine? Is the post-colonial, multilingual Ukrainian nation a holdover from the past, or does it hold some promise for the future?
Course reading list
Video version of this course available on YouTube.
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