Can historical factor alone be sufficient in explaining the contemporary conflicts?
Fig12:Architecture in Kiev, similar to those found in Moscow[1]
As illustrated above, it is doubtless that historical factors, influenced and shaped the conflict in Ukraine, in the way that it laid down hatred and brought the problem in ethnicity and identity. However, it is believed that the historical reasons alone cannot be sufficient in explaining the contemporary conflicts. A much more influential reason behind would be the struggle of power between Russia and the Western countries.
To start with, although there division of identities and ethnicity in Western and Eastern Ukraine, in most of the time, they lived peacefully together.[2] It could be shown that the division and the standoff between East and West Ukraine brought by historical reasons, is not sufficient to spark off conflicts of such a scale.
The independence of Ukraine from Soviet Union stayed relatively peaceful. Over 90% of Ukraine, including most of the Russian living there, voted in support of the independence in the 1991 referendum.[5] Even after the independence, there was a decade success in democratic handovers, with pro-Russian presidents replacing pro-Western presidents, or in the other way round. Even after the Orange revolution, with pro-Western leader Viktor Yushchenko rose into power, there was no such outbreak of civil war in Eastern Ukraine. That can show the extent of the influence in historical hatred between Eastern and Western Ukrainian, didn't directly or individually, led to the Ukrainian Civil War in our time.
In the other perspective, the complexity in historical and cultural identities of Ukranian, could possibly contribute to peaceful coexistence, instead of military standoffs. The differences in the culture and language between Ukranian and Russian were not that large. [2] Ironically, they had shared a common origin when we traced them back to history and the two Slavic cultures, during the course, had actually supplemented and influenced each other. As a report in The New York Times illustrated:
“I considered myself part of the Russian culture — my mother is Russian, my father is Ukrainian,” said Aleksey Ryabchyn, a young economist and journalist from Donetsk who is running for Parliament. “I have lots of Russian friends; I like books in Russian; I speak Russian at home. So I am asking myself, ‘Who am I?’ ”[2]
The report also had a deep examination on the historical tides between Ukrainian and Russian cultures.
"The ties binding the two countries form a complex weave — personal, historical, religious, geographical — that stretches back more than a millennium... The Russian Orthodox Church traces its origins to... the grand prince of Kiev. The name Russia... was rooted in Kievan Rus, a medieval state that included lands that became Ukraine."[3]
Even in the capital of Euromaidans, Kiev:
"Kiev feels like a Russian city, architecturally and linguistically. Check into a hotel, signal a waiter, enter a shop, and chances are you will be addressed in Russian. Television talk shows are bilingual — guests speak the language in which they are most comfortable. Taxi drivers still listen to “Russky Chanson,” Russian prison ballads that are something of a cross between gangsta rap and country and western music."[4]
Therefore, the historical occupation of Russia didn't only bring hatred, but it also contributed to an extensive exchange of culture, and to a shared common origin. If it is said that the historical reasons brought the outbreak of civil war, then it ignores the positive contribution of the historical factors in bringing about the sharing of ideas, which possibly also lay down the foundation of peaceful coexistence.So what would be the most important reasons for making brothers becomes foes? It comes to me that it could possibly be found outside Ukraine.
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[1] http://ukrainetrek.com/images/kiev-ukraine-pictures-17.jpg
[2] Neil Macfarquhar. "Conflict uncovers a Ukrainian identity crisis over deep Russian roots." The New York Times. 18 October, 2014. Accessed on 18 November, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/world/europe/conflict-uncovers-a-ukrainian-identity-crisis-over-deep-russian-roots-.html?_r=0
[3] .Ibid
[4] .Ibid
[5] Historic vote for independence, The Ukrainian Weekly (1 September 1991)
Fig12:Architecture in Kiev, similar to those found in Moscow[1]
As illustrated above, it is doubtless that historical factors, influenced and shaped the conflict in Ukraine, in the way that it laid down hatred and brought the problem in ethnicity and identity. However, it is believed that the historical reasons alone cannot be sufficient in explaining the contemporary conflicts. A much more influential reason behind would be the struggle of power between Russia and the Western countries.
To start with, although there division of identities and ethnicity in Western and Eastern Ukraine, in most of the time, they lived peacefully together.[2] It could be shown that the division and the standoff between East and West Ukraine brought by historical reasons, is not sufficient to spark off conflicts of such a scale.
The independence of Ukraine from Soviet Union stayed relatively peaceful. Over 90% of Ukraine, including most of the Russian living there, voted in support of the independence in the 1991 referendum.[5] Even after the independence, there was a decade success in democratic handovers, with pro-Russian presidents replacing pro-Western presidents, or in the other way round. Even after the Orange revolution, with pro-Western leader Viktor Yushchenko rose into power, there was no such outbreak of civil war in Eastern Ukraine. That can show the extent of the influence in historical hatred between Eastern and Western Ukrainian, didn't directly or individually, led to the Ukrainian Civil War in our time.
In the other perspective, the complexity in historical and cultural identities of Ukranian, could possibly contribute to peaceful coexistence, instead of military standoffs. The differences in the culture and language between Ukranian and Russian were not that large. [2] Ironically, they had shared a common origin when we traced them back to history and the two Slavic cultures, during the course, had actually supplemented and influenced each other. As a report in The New York Times illustrated:
“I considered myself part of the Russian culture — my mother is Russian, my father is Ukrainian,” said Aleksey Ryabchyn, a young economist and journalist from Donetsk who is running for Parliament. “I have lots of Russian friends; I like books in Russian; I speak Russian at home. So I am asking myself, ‘Who am I?’ ”[2]
The report also had a deep examination on the historical tides between Ukrainian and Russian cultures.
"The ties binding the two countries form a complex weave — personal, historical, religious, geographical — that stretches back more than a millennium... The Russian Orthodox Church traces its origins to... the grand prince of Kiev. The name Russia... was rooted in Kievan Rus, a medieval state that included lands that became Ukraine."[3]
Even in the capital of Euromaidans, Kiev:
"Kiev feels like a Russian city, architecturally and linguistically. Check into a hotel, signal a waiter, enter a shop, and chances are you will be addressed in Russian. Television talk shows are bilingual — guests speak the language in which they are most comfortable. Taxi drivers still listen to “Russky Chanson,” Russian prison ballads that are something of a cross between gangsta rap and country and western music."[4]
Therefore, the historical occupation of Russia didn't only bring hatred, but it also contributed to an extensive exchange of culture, and to a shared common origin. If it is said that the historical reasons brought the outbreak of civil war, then it ignores the positive contribution of the historical factors in bringing about the sharing of ideas, which possibly also lay down the foundation of peaceful coexistence.So what would be the most important reasons for making brothers becomes foes? It comes to me that it could possibly be found outside Ukraine.
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[1] http://ukrainetrek.com/images/kiev-ukraine-pictures-17.jpg
[2] Neil Macfarquhar. "Conflict uncovers a Ukrainian identity crisis over deep Russian roots." The New York Times. 18 October, 2014. Accessed on 18 November, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/world/europe/conflict-uncovers-a-ukrainian-identity-crisis-over-deep-russian-roots-.html?_r=0
[3] .Ibid
[4] .Ibid
[5] Historic vote for independence, The Ukrainian Weekly (1 September 1991)