[aaus-list] FYI: Should Ukraine become a parliamentary republic? ("Open Democracy, " 19 December 2008)

[stephen velychenko]

Andreas Umland as usual has written a concise article cogently
explaining an important issue. However, in this instance, he like all
to many others,  ignores two variables that must be included.
First, the issue of incomplete independence. For American and western
European political observers the issue of "national liberation" is
simply an abstract historical concept as their countries either
attained it 150 -200 years ago, or they have always been independent.
As such it  is no longer an issue. But in so far as a proportion of
Ukraine's elite and its population is opposed to national independence
and focus their activity either on returning Ukraine to the status of
a Russian province, or, of an autonomous satellite similar to what
Cossack-Ukraine was in 1709-1783, "national liberation" remains a
issue in Ukraine that observers should not ignore. It would seem
reasonable therefore,  that any serious discussion of parliamentary VS
presidential systems in Ukraine  must include consideration of which
will better attain  national independence and quick entry into the EU.

Second, like all too many political observers Mr. Umland also ignores
economic issues. Given the rapacious destruction of society and the
environment that unregulated global corporations and financial flows
have led to, any serious analysis must also ask whether a
parliamentary or a presidential system will introduce the tough
regulation that are necessary to curb these two destructive forces. A
poverty-stricken polarized and pauperized society will not provide a
basis for a stable independent national state -- regardless of what
its political system is.

-- 
Stephen Velychenko
CERES Associate;
Research Fellow,Chair of Ukrainian Studies;
Munk Center
University of Toronto
Devonshire Place
Toronto M5S 3K7