This paper seeks to discover what it means to be Ukrainian. The concept of the Ukrainian national identity has developed and changed many times over throughout the history of this land. This is especially true in the years following the Russian Revolution in 1917. However this paper will begin with an in-depth look at the meaning of a national identity. It will then look at several influential people who helped to shape this idea over approximately the last three hundred years. Finally, this paper with look into the major events of Ukrainian history, which helped to shape both the people and the physical landscape. These major events will begin with the Battle of Poltava in 1709 and continue on until Ukraine’s recognized independence.
This topic choice was clear for me. Growing up figure skating at a Soviet style ice rink, and well as an Eastern European household, I have become somewhat familiar with Ukrainian people and their connection to Russia. I have had the good fortune to share the ice with some of the Ukraine’s most well-known figure skaters. One was Oksana Baiul who was the 1993 figure skating world champion and in 1994, won the Olympic gold medal in ladies singles. Another was Viktor Petrenko who has won multiple Olympic medals, European championships, and world championships. As a result, skaters from all over the world, but especially the Ukraine come to New Jersey to train with Viktor and Oksana’s coach, Galina Zmievskaya. One day, when I was perhaps fourteen years old, I got into an argument with one of Galina’s older pupils who had traveled to the United States from the Ukraine to train. I don’t remember anything about that argument except for one thing he said to me, “You have no idea what it is like to wake up...
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...rsonally confirmed these plans to Mazepa. When the Hetman realized what was about to occur, he and his most senior officers started to negotiate in secret with the Polish King Stanislaus Leszczynski and with the Swedish King Charles XII of Sweden. While the exact details of these negotiations are not entirely known, it has been said by Pylyp Orlyk, Mazepa’s general chancellor and closest supporter that during these negotiations, that Charles XII personally guaranteed Ukrainian freedom from Russia. What is known is that the alliance led to an underground anti-Russian coalition which was formed in 1708.
Unfortunately, the Ukrainian collaboration against Russia did not turn out as expected. Swedish troops were being devastated by Russian winter temperatures as well as the Tsar’s scorched-earth tactics. The decision was made to move the Swedish military to the Ukraine
In the book “The Boys of Winter” by Wayne Coffey, shows the struggle of picking the twenty men to go to Lake Placid to play in the 1980 Olympics and compete for the gold medal. Throughout this book Wayne Coffey talks about three many points. The draft and training, the importance of the semi-final game, and the celebration of the gold medal by the support the team got when they got home.
One of the biggest differences between the two incidences of Ukraine and the book we read would be the time periods, as well as duration of the disputes. Some say that racial injustice and oppression is still very relevant today, and of course the disagreement in the Ukraine is relevant due to the fact that it is all over the news at the moment. For the most part, black and white segregation was centered and isolated in the United States and stayed there overall. The thing about the Ukrainian struggle is that it started in Ukraine and Russia, and has stayed there, but it has a possible global ripple effect, if you will. Overall, the Ukrainian dilemma has already reached the world in terms of being aware of what i...
After being mesmerized by figure skating at the age of eight, I became a member of the Markham Skating Club. As a competitive figure skater, I must perform various jumps and spins in a choreographed program. I have participated in numerous competitions in Central Ontario and have received multiple medals for my achievements. Yet, my achievement as a figure skater stem from the adversity that I faced throughout my skating journey. This sport has imposed challenges to both my mental and physical strength that have ultimately constructed the qualities of dedication and humility within myself.
The October “Red” revolution in 1917 soon broke out. The revolution was led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks, who captured the Provisional Government and appointed themselves leaders. The Bolsheviks leaders then signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918 with Germany end ties w...
Ukraine has recently shaken the world with a phenomenon called Euromaidan, a collective name for some extraordinary events that took place on the main square of its capital. A dormant post-soviet country "somewhere by Russia" suddenly made it to the major media headlines and stayed there for three months straight. And it wasn't just a pretty picture of impressive crowds or transmundane tire-fires that captured the eye of the public. This uprising, that looked at first just like any other "color revolution", quickly escalated into a strong self-organized and structured movement, becoming a higher level of protest for Ukraine in particular and Europe in general. Caused by a number of political and social tensions, this national crisis still keeps developing even after the notorious president and his government are gone, inciting both an informational and an actual war between Ukraine and Russia.
After the Bolshevik overthrow of Tsarist Russia and the October Revolution in 1917, the Crimean region and the Crimean Tatars were eventually granted their own Socialist republic, the Crimean ASSR. The creation of the Crimean Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic allowed for the Crimean Tatars to have a sense of power, as they had their own republic. Yet, as under Tsarist rule, the Crimean Tatars soon found that this power was all for naught. The Soviet government, as with all of the Socialist Soviet Republics of the USSR, took control of everything, acting by its own hand and not by the will of the workers. Thus, the power each republic had was truly a figurative power. The Crimean Tatars thought that they had finally achieved a power to live
Why though? Russia and Ukraine had always disliked each other, says “The New American”. And at some point the Soviets forced the Ukranians to become a country with them, but after a while Ukraine had enough. But Stalin did not want a revolt against him, so he started a famine against Ukraine so they could not revolt against him, explains “The Ukrainian Genocide”.
This paper focuses on the protests in Ukraine and seeks to examine the different aspects related to its effect on Ukraine’s relations with the international community. This paper also discusses the role of other political leaders inside Ukraine on the protests and some of the key actors involved. The approach used to write this paper is realistic. Ukraine’s self-interest combined with the economic and military power of Russia is the possible reason of the decision made by Ukraine. As this case basically deals with power and self-interests of countries, realism will best help to understand and comprehend this case.
“Gymnastics taught me everything- life lessons, responsibility and discipline and respect.” -Shawn Johnson (Former Olympic gymnast). In my interview with Franchesca Hutton-Lau I found this quote to prove very true to her. Franchesca Hutton-Lau, often called Frankee by her friends and teammates, has been a gymnast ever since she was five years old. In my interview with her, she enlightened me on her struggles, experiences, lessons, and successes which she’s taken from this treacherous sport. Chesca, as I call her, has a very different life from the average high school student.
Discourse of Collective Identity in central and Southeast Europe (1770-1945), ed. by Balázs Trencsényi and Michal Kopeček (Hungary: Central European University Press, 2007)
In the second half of the nineteenth century, after almost 30 years of general calm, the Polish people once again began protesting Russian rule. Meetings were held and discussions raged about reforms and emancipatio...
Larsen, Susan. "National Identity, Cultural Authority, and the Post-Soviet Blockbuster: Nikita Mikhalkov and." Slavic Revie (2003): 491-511.
‘To be rooted is perhaps the most important and the least recognized need of human soul (Weil, 1942). Discuss this statement with reference to national identity and the possibility of a post-national ‘European Identity’
In 1991, Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union. However since then, Ukraine has been suffering from instability due to an ethnic divide. In 2004, Ukraine went through the Orange Revolution after speculations of misconduct during the 2004 elections. Since the Orange Revolution, two other revolutions have made an impact in Ukraine: Euromaidan and the 2014 Ukraine Revolution. The country has been divided into two parts: the pro European and the pro Russia. Most people in the west believed that alliance with the European Union will benefit Ukraine, while people in the south side with the Russian Federation. In 2013 former Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, decided to
In this paper, I will discuss the intricate relationship between lines and the nation, sports, and athlete as a citizen, gaining evidence from figure skating, women’s professional tennis, and U.S college