Nation and Memory in Russia, Poland and Ukraine

Nation and Memory in Russia, Poland and Ukraine Lecture 1 History and the Present Week 1

Outline Introduction History matters: debates about national history The conflict in Ukraine Conclusion

Europe 2012

Putzger, Historischer Weltatlas, pp. 106 f.

Ca 1910

Lord’s prayer in Russian Отче наш Отче наш, Иже еси на небесех! Да святится имя Твое, да приидет Царствие Твое,да будет воля Твоя,яко на небеси и на земли.Хлеб наш насущный даждь нам днесь;и остави нам долги наша,якоже и мы оставляем должником нашим;и не введи нас во искушение,но избави нас от лукаваго. Аминь. Lord’s prayer in Ukrainian Отче наш Отче наш, Ти що єси на небесах,нехай святится ім'я Твоє,нехай прийде царство Твоє,нехай буде воля Твоя,як на небі, так і на землі.Хліб наш насущний, дай нам, днесь,і прости нам довги наші,як і ми прощаємо довжникам нашимі не введи нас у спокусу,а ізбави нас від лукавого.Бо Твоє є царство,і силa і слава, на віки. Амінь. How does Yiddish sound like? Lord’s prayer in Lithuanian Tėve Mūsų Tėve Mūsų, kuris esi danguje!Teesie šventas tavo vardas,teateinie tàvo karalystėTeesie tàvo valià,Kaip danguje, taip ir žemėje.Kasdienes mūsų dúonos dúok mùms šiañdienir atlèisk mums mūsų kaltès,kaip ir mes atleidžiame sàvo kaltiniñkams.Ir neléisk mūsų gùndyti,Bet gelbėk mus nuo pikto. Amen. Lord’s prayer in Polish Ojcze Nasz Ojcze nasz, któryś jest w niebieświęć się imię Twoje;przyjdź królestwo Twoje;bądź wola Twoja jako w niebie tak i na ziemi;chleba naszego powszedniego daj nam dzisiaj;i odpuść nam nasze winy, jako i my odpuszczamy naszym winowajcom;i nie wódź nas na pokuszenie;ale nas zbaw od złego. Amen

History Policy in Poland • The Law and Justice Party in power • A positive image of Polish history • The Institute of National Remembrance • The suffering and fighting nation • Legitimate concerns: Death camps in Poland • The contested issue of anti-Semitism in 20th century Poland • Polish ‘identity’ – Catholic and conservative moral values • Dangers of European integration and globalisation • Polish Civil Society

Ukraine • Independence 1991, Orange Revolution, 2004, Euromaidan 2013/14 • How to write the history of Ukraine? State, territory, people • The Institute of National Memory • Connection with Russian history • The debate on 20th century Ukrainian nationalism: Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists, Ukrainian Insurgent Army, SS Division Galicia • The Ukrainian Famine and the Soviet past • Civil Society

Russia • How to write Russian history? Empire and nation • Phantom pain: the collapse of the Soviet Union • Great power status • Soviet past: positive or negative • Ukrainian History – Russian History: Complicated relationship to Ukrainian nation building and statehood • Territory: Crimea and what else? • Memorial and Civil Society

Conflict in Ukraine • 1991 Ukrainian independence • 2004 Orange Revolution • 2010 Election of Yanukovych • November 2013 Suspension of trade deal with EU and begin of protests in Kyiv (Euromaidan) • February 2014 Yanukovych flees Kyiv • March 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea • April/May 2014 Russian-supported separatist groups in Donetsk and Luhansk region rebel against Kyiv and proclaim People’s Republics • Since April 2014 War between Regular and paramilitary Ukrainian forces against rebel army, paramilitary troops, volunteers from Russia and regular Russian forces (partly denied by Russian government) • Sepember 2014 Minsk agreement (ceasefire), does not hold, since then many (broken) ceasefires

Referendum 1 December 1991: "Do you support the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine?”?"

Percentage of Russian speakers in Ukraine by region in 2001 Ukrainian census

Conclusion • History matters • History and nation building • Historical roots of current international conflicts • History and national narratives • History debates and divisions in national societies

Nation and Memory in Russia, Poland and Ukraine