Ukrainian Politics and Society: From Independence to Invasion and Beyond

In order to understand both the causes of Russia's war on Ukraine and the drivers of Ukraine's ongoing resistance, we must look beyond great power politics and examine the changes in Ukrainian politics and society since independence in 1991. How did Ukraine become an (albeit imperfect) democracy? When and why did relations between Russia and Ukraine begin to break down? And how has Ukraine managed to withstand an all-out invasion by an apparently much stronger power? This course explores these questions by examining factors from both above and below: considering not only elite and geo-politics, but also the role of Ukrainian society. It emphasizes that ordinary Ukrainians have not only been impacted by but have also influenced key moments in recent Ukrainian history. In particular, we examine what factors shaped important episodes such as Ukraine's path to independence in 1991, the Orange Revolution of 2004, the Euromaidan protests and subsequent reforms, responses to conflict in East Ukraine in 2014, and the Russian full-scale invasion of 2022. Drawing on insights and concepts from both political science and sociology, students cultivate a nuanced understanding of Ukrainian politics and society which helps them not only to better understand the current war, but also contextualize broader studies of Ukraine, past, present, and future.