With a preface by Diane Francis
This book comprises a collection of essays that shed light on some of the key humanitarian issues that have emerged in independent Ukraine since the fall of the Soviet Union. With a strong empirical focus, the chapters explore pivotal events such as the 1990 Student Revolution on Granite (referring to the stone of Kyiv’s Independence Square), the 2004 Orange Revolution (named after Viktor Yushchenko’s campaign color), and the 2013–2014 Revolution of Dignity (also known as »Euromaidan«). The book examines the evolution of a robust civil society, the emergence of a Ukrainian political nation, and the ultimate achievement of national unity among Ukrainians.These developments are not only analyzed in the context of Ukraineʼs recent state-building successes but are also viewed as a continuation of the countryʼs longstanding national liberation struggle for independence from Russia. Of particular note, the book highlights the ongoing re-evaluation of established stereotypes surrounding the roots of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which the author, Kvit, presents as a clash of civilizational values.These thought-provoking essays by one of Ukraineʼs most prominent political intellectuals will prove valuable not only to those with an interest in Ukraine but also to scholars across a range of disciplines, including mass communications, political science, philosophical hermeneutics, history, and higher education.