Ukraine after 1991 - JTM282

• Title: Ukraine after 1991
• Guaranteed by: Department of Russian and East European Studies (23-KRVS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, C [HT]
• Capacity: 20 / unknown (20)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

The course covers post-1991 developments in Ukraine with a twofold focus: on the one hand, exposing internal political and social transformations related to the post-Soviet transit, as well as their entanglements; and, on the other hand, highlighting points of divergence from the trajectories taken by neighbouring post-Soviet states, most importantly, Belarus and Russia. Given the recent salient shift in East European studies towards their re-centralization, or disentangling from the Russocentric perspective, outlining meaningful differences in Ukraine’s political makeup enables further elaborations towards the set goal. The course is built in the chronological perspective by covering subsequent stages in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history where certain turning points punctuate this development: elections, mass protests, and military tensions.

Aim of the course

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

The course has an interdisciplinary character combining theories and sources from contemporary history and social sciences. It aims to provide a consistent vision of Ukraine’s recent history as a foundation for further - problem-oriented - courses.

Descriptors

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• describe the main stages and challenges of Ukraine’s post-Soviet development;
• explain the specificity of Ukraine’s post-Soviet transition;
• orient in the political landscape of contemporary Ukraine;
• discuss the transformation of the political system in Ukraine and the evolution of political culture embraced by the citizenry;
• assess various policies embraced by the Ukrainian state at different stages after 1991;
• discuss foreign policies devised in the context of a lukewarm relationship with the EU against intense Russia’s involvement in Ukraine’s domestic matters;
• provide meaningful arguments in the debates about the state – people relations in post-1991 Ukraine;
• enhance oral and writing skills in academic English.

Course completion requirements

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

Assignment	Weight in Final Grade	Evaluated Student Learning Outcomes
Active Class Participation	10%	Engagement in class discussion, demonstrating the knowledge gained from assigned weekly reading and other sources; making own point, asking and answering questions.
Presentation	30%	Ability to comprehend academic texts and to formulate their main ideas; present them in a well-structured and clear way; prepare visual materials to the presentation (power-point presentation and/or handouts); ability to assess the source critically.
Mid-term test	20%	Knowledge of facts, dates, main actors, and overall trends at different stages of Ukraine’s post-1991 development
Final Paper	40%	Ability to understand the main ideas, concepts and case studies covered; define a problem and look for answers; write in a clear, academic style; use cohesive argument.
TOTAL	100%

 

According to the Dean's provision, the teacher evaluates the student's performance in the percentages assigned to grades A to F (https://fsv.cuni.cz/sites/default/files/uploads/files/S_SO_002_001_Organization_of_examination_dates%2C_assessment_of_study%2C_and_the_use_of_A%E2%80%93F_grading_scale_at_FSV_UK.pdf):

91 % and up => A

81-90 % => B

71-80 % => C

61-70 % => D

51-60 % => E

0-50 % => F

A – excellent (outstanding performance with only minor mistakes)

B – very good (above average performance with some mistakes)

C – good (overall good performance with a number of notable mistakes)

D – satisfactory (acceptable performance with significant mistakes)

E – sufficient (performance fulfils only minimum criteria)

F – insufficient/failed (more effort needs to be made).

Literature

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

Main sources:

Wilson, Andrew (2015). The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation, Fourth edition. Yale University Press.

Plokhy, Serhii. (2015). The Gates of Europe: a History of Ukraine. Basic Books.

Yekelchyk, Serhii. (2007). Ukraine. Birth of a Modern Nation. Oxford University Press.

 

Recommended literature:

Minakov, M.; Kasianov, G.; & Rojansky, M. (eds.) (2021). From „The Ukraine” to Ukraine. A Contemporary History, 1991-2021. Ibidem Verlag.

Palko, Olena; & Ferez Gil, Manuel (eds.) (2023) Ukraine’s Many Faces: Land, People, and Culture Revisited. Transcript.

 

Magocsi, Robert Paul (1996) A History of Ukraine. University of Toronto Press.

 

Subtelny, Orest (2009) Ukraine: A History. University of Toronto Press.

 

Snyder, Timothy (2022) The Making of Modern Ukraine: Lectures at Yale University, https://online.yale.edu/courses/making-modern-ukraine

Teaching methods

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

The main teaching methods of this course will be micro-lectures and focused discussions. Every class starts with an introductory micro-lecture by the instructor followed by a discussion of the assigned literature. Students’ presentations elaborating on extra sources will be part of the schedule as well. Whereas every enrolled student is obliged to do the required reading for every class (2-3 papers), a presenter should pick a source from further reading and elaborate on it in her presentation. Primary sources and documentaries are included in the scope of materials for the course. The mid-term test will be held in class to check the level of mastering the factual information on post-1991 Ukraine. The final essay represents students’ scholarly endeavours in a chosen direction, relevant to the course scope.

Syllabus

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

Week 1	Introduction: who tells Ukraine’s history?
Week 2	On the eve of independence. Chornobyl. Political pluralization. Rukh.
Week 3	The early 1990s. Miners’ protests. Snap presidential elections.
Week 4	The late 1990s. Consolidation of the presidential power and oligarchic system.
Week 5	Kuchmagate. Yuschenko’s economic reforms. Mass protests.
Week 6	The Orange Revolution and its bitter aftermath.
Week 7	Yanukovych’s revanche. The ‘family’ and patronal consolidation after 2010.
Week 8	The chronicles of the Maidan. Mid-term test.
Week 9	The annexation of Crimea. Failed Russian spring. The beginning of the Russian invasion.
Week 10	Poroshenko’s Presidency: partial reforms or national consolidation?
Week 11	The rise of ocular democracy: Zelensky.
Week 12	The big war of 2022: contexts and consequences.

Entry requirements

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

No background knowledge is requested, although general orientation in East European history would be a plus.

Decent level of oral and written English skills are mandatory. A fair command in East Slavic languages would be an advantage.

Registration requirements

Last update: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D. (20.09.2023)

The priority is given to the students applying for a special certificate "Ukraine: Contemporary History, Politics, and Society" within the BECES MA program.