U

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E : TH

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By Bethany Walter

& Matthew Dierks

AN EARLY

HIS

TORY

BE F O

RE 1

9 9 1

Kievan Rus (Київська Русь)

During the 10th and 11th centuries, the Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state. This country was developed along an important trade route from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. This was also the time when Orthodox Christianity was adopted, creating a connection between Kievan Rus with the Byzantine Empire in 988 AD.

With essentially no central government in place, Kievan Rus disintegrated into rural princedoms which succumbed to disunity and political weakness. People stopped paying taxes, Europeans established new trading routes that excluded them, and eventually they were invaded by the Mongols (Tartars). The capital city was eventually moved to Moscow in 1328. For both Russians and Ukrainians, the period before this decline is still looked upon with great fondness and pride.

Cossak Hetmanate state after 1648

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569

Austro-Hungary & Russia in the 18th century

Soviet Union after 1920

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INDEPENDENCE

Freedom finally came for the Ukrainians with the dissolving of the Soviet Union in 1991. On December 1st of that year, a referendum was held in the Ukraine on national independence and passed with 90 percent of the vote.

The Ukrainian Constitution was adopted in 1996 and has since been amended. It sets up a government structure very similar to that of Russia’s. With a dual executive, proportionally representative legislature, and an appointed judiciary branch, this is a multiparty system.

Batkivshchya (“Fatherland”)

Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU)

Party of Regions People’s Movement

of Ukraine People’s Party Radical Party Socialist Party of

Ukraine (SPU) Svoboda Ukrainian Democratic

Alliance for Reforms (UDAR)

Moving forward…

A FAILE

D DEMOCRACY

POLITICAL & CULTURAL INSTABILITY

The Western region shares much in common with the middle, but was influenced for a long time by the European languages, cultures and religion.

The Eastern region has very little in common with the West. Slavs, attracted by industry and growth, populated the area well into the 19th century.

The middle region, which includes Kiev, has been heavily influenced by both sides. As the cradle of Russian society, ties have historically been strong with the Byzantine Empire and with the East. Yet, having been ruled by the Poles, it also has strong ties with the West.

Today, 67 percent of people living in the Ukraine speak Ukrainian and 30 percent speak Russian (shown above). Furthermore, 71 percent are ethnically Ukrainian, while only 17 percent identify as ethnically Russian. The other 12 percent are remaining Tatars.

FAILED RELATIONS WITH THE WEST

Despite it’s pull towards the West, the Ukraine remained much more closely tied with Russia than other former Soviet republics because the West never fully embraced the Ukraine as a potential trade partner.

Many other states were offered the prospect of membership in the EU or NATO for the diligent pursuit of democratic and market reforms. No such offer was seriously extended to the Ukraine. This has made transition to democracy very difficult.

CONTINUED RUSSIAN INFLUENCE

Украины нет, не было и быть не может!

At the same time, many Russians had never truly gotten used to the idea of an independent Ukraine. The reluctance of the West to be involved left a void Russia was more than happy to fill.

POLIT

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ULTURE

WH

AT

DO

UK

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I NI A

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TH

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OF

TH

EI R

GO

VE

RN

ME

NT

?

ТРАНСПЕРЕНСІ ІНТЕРНЕШНЛ УКРАЇНА

77%

87%

142/175

74% 84%

DEMOCRATIC PULSE

The Orange Revolution, the protest in Independence Square, up to the current situation in the Ukraine, tells us that the people are unhappy enough with their government to stand up and fight for democracy and for Westernization.

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SOVIET UNION IMPACT :The late 80s to early 90s

• During Soviet rule Ukraine was known as one of the poorest regions, only falling ahead of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan.

• During the later years of soviet rule Ukraine relied heavily on the Soviet Union for reduced gas prices. This in turn lead the gas to being exported at higher costs bringing in additional income.

• The best sources available at the time shows Ukraine's GDP at just above $1,000.00 even with the Soviets giving Ukraine the lowered gas prices.

In 1991, when Ukraine gained independence, the United States had high hopes that it would become a wealthy free market Democratic system. However, as of today the Ukraine has plummeted to be known lately as the “next Greece,” or “sick old man of Europe.”

INITIAL RESULTS AFTER THE SOVIET UNION

• With the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine tried to build up its infrastructure essentially from nothing to the economic standing expected by the U.S. and the rest of Europe.

• With the building of a new free market economy came many costs, such as a black market of economic goods and political corruption between 1991 and 1996 as well as mass inflation.

• In order to stabilize the economy Ukraine began to tax heavily on all available businesses, which lead to further separation and shadow economics.

THE U

KRAINIA

N ECONOMY

TODAY

• In 1996, the Ukraine incorporated its first national currency called the Hryvnia, which helped to stabilize the economy and rid the country of all previous currencies used.

• Even with the national currency, Ukraine’s economy has struggled and since the 2008 recession has not shown continuous strides of improvement like before.

• Since 2008, the Ukraine has acquired around 60 billion dollars in debt. This will rise in the near future due to the older populations beginning to retire and rely more on the government.

A New Currency

INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM

As of today Ukraine is ranked 162nd out of 183 in the 2014. They are only ahead of countries such as Iran (171), Republic of Congo(170), and North Korea (178) the other 5 countries listed as “not ranked” on the current list.

СПАСИБІ !

TH

AN

KS

!

BIBLIO

GRAPHY

1

• Novikov, Tatyana. "Christianization of Russia: 988 AD." Russian Culture and Civilizations. Omaha. Lecture.

• The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web.

• Remington, Thomas F. Politics in Russia. 7th ed. Boston: Pearson Longman, 2012. Print.

• McLaughlin, Lauren. "The Conflict in Ukraine: A Historical Perspective." A Harvard Scholar Explains. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.

• Liaugminas, Tatiana. "An Ambivalent Relationship." Russian Life Sept.-Oct. 2014: 64. Print.

• "Transition in Ukraine." NATO Parliamentary Assembly. N.p., 2006. Web.

• "Corruption by Country / Territory." Transparency International. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.

• Gray, Julia. "The Problem With Ukraine's Transition to Democracy." Political Violence a Glance. N.p., 03 Mar. 2014. Web.

• Understanding Ukraine: The Problems Today and Some Historical Context. Perf. Vlogbrothers. 2014. YouTube.

• Danilevsky, Nikolai. "The Slav Role in World Civilization." Readings in Russian Civilization; Edited with Introductory Notes by Thomas Riha; 2nd Ed., Revised. Vol. 2. Chicago London: U of Chicago P, 1969. 384-85. Print.

BIBLIO

GRAPHY

2

• "Ukrainian Hryvnia." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 16 Mar. 2015

• "Ukraine's Underachieving Economy Since 1991.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.

• "The Underachiever: Ukraine's Economy Since 1991." Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 9 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

• "Ukraine." Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, FDI, Corruption. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.

• "Country Rankings." : World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom. Web. 16