[Aaus-community-list] [aaus-list] Olexiy Haran's Q&A booklet on Ukraine

[Jurij Dobczansky]

Ukraine in Europe: questions and answers (published by the Friedrich
Naumann Stiftung 
Fur die Freiheit and the International Renaissance Foundation, 2009)

This very useful compilation is available in book form as well as in
pdf format: 
(http://www.ukraine.fnst.org/files/1183/ukr_eur_Layout_1.pdf)

CONTENTS
 
— Chronology of Ukrainian History 
— Basic Data 
— Questions and Answers
 
Conspiracy theories tell us about the West’s and especially
the U.S. “dream” of the USSR’s dissolution. What was
the West’s position vis-à-vis Ukrainian independence?
 
Why, in contrast to some other Soviet republics, were
there no interethnic conflicts as Ukraine moved towards
independence?

Given the depth of Russification of eastern Ukraine, the CIA’s
sensational report in early 1994 speculated that Ukraine
could “split” in two. Why didn’t this happen?

What is the present ethno-linguistic situation? Is the Russian
language under threat?

Despite profound regional differences, there is no federalization
of Ukraine. Why?
 
Why doesn’t Ukraine recognize Kosovo? 

Why was Ukraine a founder but not a member of the CIS?

What is the “tapegate scandal” and how has it influenced
Ukraine’s politics?

How was the country deliberately polarized by Kuchma’s
administration during the 2004 presidential elections?
 
What were the reasons for the success of the Orange Revolution?
Was it a Western plot? 

What were the results of the Orange Revolution?
Why did the Party of Regions reemerge and why
did Yanukovych return as prime minister in 2006?

Ukrainian politics seem to be very turbulent, but eventually
result in compromises. Why is that? What is “pluralism
by default”? 

What are the main achievements and disappointments
of the Ukrainian economy? 

What is the influence of the world economic crisis of 2008-2009
on Ukraine? 

What are the directions of constitutional reform?

Is it necessary for Ukraine to return to a single mandate
electoral system? 

During the 1990s, the Communists were the strongest party
in the parliament. Are they still as influential?

How decisive is Russia’s influence in Ukraine?

Creation of an “enemy image” of Ukraine 

Why is Ukrainian Orthodoxy split? What are the prospects
for a canonic, autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church?

Divisive history issues 

Why do Ukrainians consider the 1933 famine
as constituting genocide? 

Divisive history: the Organization of Ukrainian
Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent
Army (UPA) 

Soviet and Russian propaganda portrayed the Ukrainian
national liberation movement as anti-Semitic. It promoted
this stereotype in the Western media as well. What
is the real history of Ukrainian-Jewish relations?

Can Russia repeat the South Ossetian/Abkhazian scenario
in Crimea? 

“Gas wars”: what happened between Russia and Ukraine
in the winters of 2006 and 2009?

What was the EU reaction to the Russia-Ukraine “gas war”
in winter of 2009?

Is the EU ready to recognize the prospect of Ukraine’s
membership?

Visa issue: test of the EU’s good will

Can Ukraine stay neutral/non-aligned? 

There is a stereotype that the policy of joining NATO
was formulated by President Yushchenko after the Orange
Revolution. However, it is President Kuchma who argued
that Ukraine should join NATO

Yanukovych once actually "scheduled" Ukraine's entry into
NATO in 2008. So, is the Party of Regions really anti-NATO?

NATO promised that “Ukraine will become a NATO member,”
but refused to offer a Membership Action Plan (MAP).
How could this happen? 

How will the results of the 2010 presidential elections influence
future Ukrainian politics?
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