Ukraine's existence as a nation has sparked controversy due to its historical significance and impact on neighboring countries.
Understanding the complexities of nation-building in Ukraine involves examining historical events, diverse cultural influences, and the impact of genocide.
Deep dives
Exploring the Themes of the Class
The class aims to understand the major themes on Ukraine, including its origins and evolution over time. It delves into the complexities of nation-building and seeks to uncover why nations exist and their significance. By examining historical events and entities on Ukrainian territory, the course aims to explore the processes that led to the formation of Ukraine and other related nations.
The Role of Geography and Diversity in Ukrainian History
The geographical positioning of Ukraine as a crossroads between civilizations has shaped its history. From interactions with Vikings to encounters with the Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Catholics, and Protestants, Ukraine embodies diverse cultural and religious influences. Embracing these varied legacies, Ukraine stands as a central figure, representing major European historical themes but in a more intensified manner.
Questioning the Notion of History Repeating Itself
History is about acknowledging both change and continuity, highlighting the unpredictability of events. While some may perceive history as cyclical, emphasizing golden ages and declines, this perspective overlooks human agency and diversity. Refuting the idea of history repeating itself challenges assumptions of predetermined outcomes and allows for a more nuanced understanding of historical developments.
The Insight into the Concept of Genocide in Modern History
The discussion on genocide reveals a 20th-century construct that underscores the intentional destruction of people. Linking genocide to the notion of nationhood, it poses crucial questions on the existence and obliteration of societies. By examining instances of genocide in the context of the ongoing conflict, the course aims to delve into deeper historical forces that impact nation-building and destruction.
Class 1 is an introduction to the course and an exploration of questions raised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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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