Ukraine split of national identities:
In Ukraine, the predominant ethnicity is different in the eastern and western part. In the east, there are more ethnic Russians, who speak Russian and see Ukraine as intrinsically linked to Russia, while there are more ethnic Ukrainians in the West, who speak Ukrainian and believe the country is part of Europe. [1] [2]
The country has not established a strong national identity which there is a common narrative and shared political ideologies among all the people.[3] It is argued that the split of national identities in Ukraine may be utilized by Russia nationalist to annex the eastern region, especially Crimea, where people may still feel affiliated with Russia
Russian nationalism:
There are two types of Russian nationalism. The first type regards Russian as all the people that were originally inside the border of Soviet Union, or even Russian Empire. It is hoped that these territories can be reintegrated. The second type is a more ethnic exclusive type which believes that Russia has the responsibility to protect all ethnic Russians, free from ‘pollution’ by other ethnicities. It is believed that Russia President, Vladimir Putin, is more inclined to the second type of nationalism.[4]
Analyst believed that why Crimea is annexed is due to its suitability to apply Russian nationalism: a territory with a majority of ethnic Russians but, at the same time, will not integrate many non-Russians into the Russian Federation.[5]
How does Russian government and media portray ideology (nationalism and ethnicity) as main point of conflict? A look into Putin speech after Crimea Annexation on 18 March
In Putin’s speech, he highlighted how Crimea is culturally and historically linked to Russia. For example, Crimea is the place where Prince Vladimir, a member of Russian Royal family, was baptized and the grave of some Russian soldiers are also located in the region. He believed that Crimea is involved in Russian’s shared history and glory.[6]
He further went on to highlight that the majority ethnicity in Crimea is Russian.[7] It is because out of the 2.2 million people in Crimea, 1.5 are ethnic Russian, and 350,000 are Ukrainians who speaks Russian as their mother tongue.[8]
With the above claims, he justified the invasion of Crimea by Russian Nationalism, which is to protect all ethnic Russians. He argued that ethnic Russians in Crimea are under threat due to the repression by the Ukrainian ‘Fascists’.[9] So it is the obligation of Russia, as well as the wish of Crimea people, to intervene militarily so as to defend the lives and rights of the Crimea Russians.[10]
Does nationalism really plays a role? Yes, but not that much.
Nationalism ideas are greatly supported by people in Russia and Crimea. From recent public poll in Russia, 95% of respondents believed that Russia have the obligation to protect the Crimea Russians’ interests; 86 % of them consider Crimea as part of the Russian territory. Moreover, over 90% of voters support Crimea’s reunification with Russia in the Crimea referendum. [11]While the polls and referendum might be biased as there is no independent monitoring organization to supervise the process, it at least gives a hint that there is still some, if not overwhelming, nationalist sentiments in Russia and Crimea to support the construction of a greater Russian nation. Also, the surge in domestic popularity of the nationalistic President Putin after the annexation further shows that that nationalism has a role to play in the conflict.[12]
Nevertheless, in the later sections, it is argued that the role of nationalism is exaggerated. The role of military strategic consideration and internal political concern may be more significant. The following posts of this section will explore other factors that are overlooked in the conflict.
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[1] Tom Cohen, “Is Crimea gone? Annexation no longer the focus of Ukraine crisis,” CNN, April 1, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/31/politics/crimea-explainer/
[2] Max Fisher, “Everything you need to know about Ukraine Crisis,” Vox, September 3, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.vox.com/cards/ukraine-everything-you-need-to-know/what-is-the-ukraine-crisis
[3] Max Fisher, “9 questions about Ukraine you were too embarrassed to ask,” The Washington Post, January 30, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/01/30/9-questions-about-ukraine-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/
[4] Henry E. Hale, “Russian nationalism and the logic of the Kremlin's actions on Ukraine,” The Guardian, August 29, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/russian-nationalism-kremlin-actions-ukraine
[5] Henry E. Hale, “Russian nationalism and the logic of the Kremlin's actions on Ukraine,” The Guardian, August 29, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/russian-nationalism-kremlin-actions-ukraine
[6] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[7] Doug Bandow, “Russians And Ukrainians Battle Over Crimea, But What About Tartars? The Tragic Perils of Nationalism,” Forbes, March 24, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.forbes.com/sites/dougbandow/2014/03/24/russians-and-ukrainians-battle-over-crimea-but-what-about-tartars-the-tragic-perils-of-nationalism/
[8] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[9] David Remnick, “Putin goes to war,” The New Yorker, March 1. 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2013, http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/putin-goes-to-war
[10] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[11] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[12] David Satter, “Opinion: Russia’s euphoria over Crimea won’t last,” CNN, April 1, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/31/opinion/russia-euphoria-crimea/index.html?hpt=bosread
In Ukraine, the predominant ethnicity is different in the eastern and western part. In the east, there are more ethnic Russians, who speak Russian and see Ukraine as intrinsically linked to Russia, while there are more ethnic Ukrainians in the West, who speak Ukrainian and believe the country is part of Europe. [1] [2]
The country has not established a strong national identity which there is a common narrative and shared political ideologies among all the people.[3] It is argued that the split of national identities in Ukraine may be utilized by Russia nationalist to annex the eastern region, especially Crimea, where people may still feel affiliated with Russia
Russian nationalism:
There are two types of Russian nationalism. The first type regards Russian as all the people that were originally inside the border of Soviet Union, or even Russian Empire. It is hoped that these territories can be reintegrated. The second type is a more ethnic exclusive type which believes that Russia has the responsibility to protect all ethnic Russians, free from ‘pollution’ by other ethnicities. It is believed that Russia President, Vladimir Putin, is more inclined to the second type of nationalism.[4]
Analyst believed that why Crimea is annexed is due to its suitability to apply Russian nationalism: a territory with a majority of ethnic Russians but, at the same time, will not integrate many non-Russians into the Russian Federation.[5]
How does Russian government and media portray ideology (nationalism and ethnicity) as main point of conflict? A look into Putin speech after Crimea Annexation on 18 March
In Putin’s speech, he highlighted how Crimea is culturally and historically linked to Russia. For example, Crimea is the place where Prince Vladimir, a member of Russian Royal family, was baptized and the grave of some Russian soldiers are also located in the region. He believed that Crimea is involved in Russian’s shared history and glory.[6]
He further went on to highlight that the majority ethnicity in Crimea is Russian.[7] It is because out of the 2.2 million people in Crimea, 1.5 are ethnic Russian, and 350,000 are Ukrainians who speaks Russian as their mother tongue.[8]
With the above claims, he justified the invasion of Crimea by Russian Nationalism, which is to protect all ethnic Russians. He argued that ethnic Russians in Crimea are under threat due to the repression by the Ukrainian ‘Fascists’.[9] So it is the obligation of Russia, as well as the wish of Crimea people, to intervene militarily so as to defend the lives and rights of the Crimea Russians.[10]
Does nationalism really plays a role? Yes, but not that much.
Nationalism ideas are greatly supported by people in Russia and Crimea. From recent public poll in Russia, 95% of respondents believed that Russia have the obligation to protect the Crimea Russians’ interests; 86 % of them consider Crimea as part of the Russian territory. Moreover, over 90% of voters support Crimea’s reunification with Russia in the Crimea referendum. [11]While the polls and referendum might be biased as there is no independent monitoring organization to supervise the process, it at least gives a hint that there is still some, if not overwhelming, nationalist sentiments in Russia and Crimea to support the construction of a greater Russian nation. Also, the surge in domestic popularity of the nationalistic President Putin after the annexation further shows that that nationalism has a role to play in the conflict.[12]
Nevertheless, in the later sections, it is argued that the role of nationalism is exaggerated. The role of military strategic consideration and internal political concern may be more significant. The following posts of this section will explore other factors that are overlooked in the conflict.
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[1] Tom Cohen, “Is Crimea gone? Annexation no longer the focus of Ukraine crisis,” CNN, April 1, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/31/politics/crimea-explainer/
[2] Max Fisher, “Everything you need to know about Ukraine Crisis,” Vox, September 3, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.vox.com/cards/ukraine-everything-you-need-to-know/what-is-the-ukraine-crisis
[3] Max Fisher, “9 questions about Ukraine you were too embarrassed to ask,” The Washington Post, January 30, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/01/30/9-questions-about-ukraine-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/
[4] Henry E. Hale, “Russian nationalism and the logic of the Kremlin's actions on Ukraine,” The Guardian, August 29, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/russian-nationalism-kremlin-actions-ukraine
[5] Henry E. Hale, “Russian nationalism and the logic of the Kremlin's actions on Ukraine,” The Guardian, August 29, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/russian-nationalism-kremlin-actions-ukraine
[6] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[7] Doug Bandow, “Russians And Ukrainians Battle Over Crimea, But What About Tartars? The Tragic Perils of Nationalism,” Forbes, March 24, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.forbes.com/sites/dougbandow/2014/03/24/russians-and-ukrainians-battle-over-crimea-but-what-about-tartars-the-tragic-perils-of-nationalism/
[8] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[9] David Remnick, “Putin goes to war,” The New Yorker, March 1. 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2013, http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/putin-goes-to-war
[10] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[11] Bridget Kendall, “Crimea Crisis: Russia President Putin’s speech annotated,” BBC, March 19, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26652058
[12] David Satter, “Opinion: Russia’s euphoria over Crimea won’t last,” CNN, April 1, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014, http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/31/opinion/russia-euphoria-crimea/index.html?hpt=bosread