Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Ukraine - the State in Between
Course Code
PZK_174
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
7.50
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Māris Andžāns
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To provide knowledge on Ukraine, its history, politics, economics, and its special geopolitical location affecting those. The course aims to portray interlinked nature of international, local and regional politics, using Ukraine and its complex statehood as a case-study/tool.
Preliminary Knowledge
Overall knowledge of the methods and theories in the field of international relations, as well as general knowledge of Ukraine and surrounding region.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students will understand and summarize the impact of Ukraine’s historical developments on the contemporary Ukrainian politics, as well as describe Ukraine’s approach in promoting cooperation in a regional and international context. Students will also demonstrate knowledge of Russia’s / EU / US interaction in the context of the Black Sea and Eastern European regions. As Ukraine’s present and the Ukrainian-Russian context have a decisive impact on the security situation in the Baltic States and its assessment of Russia’s risks, an in-depth understanding of Ukraine’s domestic and foreign policy vectors will expand students' knowledge of Russia's potential actions in other regions.
Skills
1.Students will be able to independently acquire a large amount of materials, critically select and draw objective conclusions on their basis. Students will analyze and forecast the influence of personalities on the development of Ukraine's foreign policy course and its location between various geopolitical and regional projects.
Competences
1.Students will evaluate and argue the impact of various factors on the development of Ukraine – why country as a whole is still among various geopolitical projects. Students will develop and provide new recommendations for Ukraine's future development scenarios in the professional, academic and business environment. Such competencies will also be transferable to other regions and other topical issues where interdisciplinary and inter-regional competences and related skills and knowledge are needed.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Individual work |
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-
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During the module students will prepare for the seminars, read literature, write two essays and prepare a exam presentation.
The aim of a seminar is to develop students' ability to argue and present their opinion in a consistent and logical manner; to promote activity; to test students’ knowledge of the topic and materials in question.
The aim of the essays is to develop the ability to identify the key issue of the topic; to identify and evaluate alternative arguments and views; to offer an opinion, explaining and arguing why this particular opinion is better than any other. The report should compare all possible alternatives, considering all their strengths and weaknesses. Another goal is to develop skills to independently study the situation and the problem, give it an assessment and be able to find solutions.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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The Student will be required to hand in Papers on two of his/her chosen topics - one from lecture/class 1-5, one from lecture/class 6-10. Topics must be prior agreed with the lecturer.
Technical requirements for papers: 2000 words (+/-10%), excluding references. Format: Times New Roman 12. References in footnotes, Chicago Manual of Style.
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2.
Examination |
-
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-
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Attendance – 10%
Activity and preparedness during seminars – 30%
Papers – 40%
Final Presentation – 20%
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Study Course Theme Plan
PART-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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History of Ukraine: Origins of the Current State
Description
Annotation: The aim of the lecture is to introduce students with the history and formation of Ukraine as an individual state. Understanding the geopolitics of Ukraine’s territory and influence of many empires dominating in the region over time, provides an insight in ethnic, cultural, economic and political set up of Ukraine today. As well as gives understanding of Ukraine’s relations with its neighbours and other states.
Literature: Paul Robert Magocsi, A History of Ukraine: The Land and Its Peoples, Second Edition 2nd Edition, University of Toronto Press, 2010.
“History of Ukraine,” Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, 2020, http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CI%5CHistoryofUkraine.htm
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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History of Ukraine: 20th Century, the Soviet Union and Its Collapse
Description
Annotation: The aim of the second lecture is to explain Ukraine’s history during the 20th century. The lecture will cover the impact of the Soviet Revolution in Ukraine prior and after the First World War, the brief period of Ukraine’s independence, Sovietization process, the Second World War. It will also look at Ukraine and its role in the Soviet Union, until the country’s independence and the first free election.
Literature: Kuromiya, Hiroaki. “Ukraine and Eurasian History in the Twentieth Century.” Harvard Ukrainian Studies, vol. 34, no. 1/4, 2015, pp. 195–213. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/44364492
“History of Ukraine,” Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, 2020, http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CI%5CHistoryofUkraine.htm
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Ukraine’s Two Revolutions of the 21st Century
Description
Annotation: This lecture will focus on the events and policies leading up to the Orange and Maidan Revolutions. Topics that will be covered are: demise of Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma’s regime, the Orange Revolution in 2004-2005, Viktor Yushckeno’s regime and the following Viktor Yanukovich’s Regime, as well as the Maidan Revolution in 2013-2014. The aim of this lecture is to not only describe the two revolutions, but put them in a wider context of global, regional and national context.
Literature: Readings:
Karatnycky, Adrian. “Ukraine's Orange Revolution.” Foreign Affairs, vol. 84, no. 2, 2005, pp. 35–52. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20034274
“Orange Revolution. Study Guide”, International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict, 2016, https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Orange-Revolution-Study-Guide-2.pdf
“Ukraine's revolution of dignity: The dynamics of Euromaidan,” Journal of Eurasian Studies, vol. 7, no. 1, 2016, pp. 85-91, Science Direct, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879366515000305
“Understanding Ukraine’s Euromaidan Protests,” Open Society Foundations, 2019, https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/understanding-ukraines-euromaidan-protests
Videos:
“Orange Revolution”, International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict, https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/orange-revolution-english/
“Eleven films about Euromaidan you can watch online,” Euromaidan Press, 2017, http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/02/21/10-films-about-euromaidan-you-can-watch-online/
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Russia: From an Occasional Ally to Nemesis
Description
Annotation: The lecture will focus on the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. From previously amicable, albeit always complicated relations, Ukraine and Russia have moved into a military stand-off. What are the causes and underlying reasons for the change in this relationship and what role did Ukraine’s wishful thinking to be “the bridge” between West and Russia play?
Literature: Masters, Jonathan. “Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia,” Council on Foreign Relations, 5 February 2020, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia
Kappeler, Andreas. “Ukraine and Russia: Legacies of the imperial past and competing memories,” Journal of Eurasian Studies, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2014, pp. 107-115, Sience Direct, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879366514000062
Gressel, Gustav. “Russia’s Ukraine policy: Change to stay the same,” European Council on Foreign Relations, 3 February 2020, https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_russias_ukraine_policy_change_to_stay_the_same
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Ukraine and Historical Impact of Various Empires
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Ukraine in the Soviet Union and After its Collapse: Consequences
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Causes and Outcomes of the Orange and Maidan Revolutions
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Deterioration of Ukraine and Russia Relations: Resources, Politics, Economy
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
7.50
Contact hours:
28 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
“10 facts you should know about russian military aggression against Ukraine,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, 2019. Available from: https://mfa.gov.ua/en/10-facts-you-should-know-about-russian-military-aggression-against-ukraine
2.
“2019: U.S.-Ukraine relations: Both pluses and minuses,” Ukraine Weekly, 24 January 2020. Available from: http://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/2019-u-s-ukraine-relations-both-pluses-and-minuses/
3.
Berger, Miriam. “The U.S. relationship with Ukraine runs deep. Here’s why,” Washington Post, 12 November 2019. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/11/12/us-relationship-with-ukraine-runs-deep-heres-why/
4.
“Canada’s engagement in Ukraine,” Government of Canada, 2020. Available from: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/country-pays/ukraine/relations.aspx?lang=eng
5.
De Maio, Giovanna. Russia’s View of Ukraine after the Crisis. Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), 2016, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/resrep09810
6.
“EU relations with Ukraine,” European Council, 2020. Available from: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eastern-partnership/ukraine/
7.
“EU-Ukraine relations – factsheet”, European Union External Action Service, October 2020. Available from: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-Homepage_en
8.
“EU-Ukraine relations,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, 2019. Available from: https://mfa.gov.ua/en/about-ukraine/european-integration/eu-ukraine-relations
9.
Gerasymchuk, Sergiy. “The Relations Between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova: Prospects For 2020,” Ukrainian Prism Foreign Policy Council, 12 February 2020. Available from: http://prismua.org/en/english-the-relations-between-ukraine-and-the-republic-of-moldova-prospects-for-2020/
10.
Getmanchuk, Alyona. “Russia as aggressor, NATO as objective: Ukraine’s new National Security Strategy,” New Europe Center, 30 September 2020. Available from: http://neweurope.org.ua/en/analytics/rosiya-yak-agresor-nato-yak-meta-nova-strategiya-natsionalnoyi-bezpeky-ukrayiny/
11.
Gressel, Gustav. “Russia’s Ukraine policy: Change to stay the same,” European Council on Foreign Relations, 3 February 2020. Available from: https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_russias_ukraine_policy_change_to_stay_the_same
12.
“History of Ukraine,” Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, 2020. Available from: http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CI%5CHistoryofUkraine.htm
13.
Iwański, Tadeusz. “Ukraine: relations with Belarus suspended,” Centre for Eastern Studies, 2 September 2020. Available from: https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2020-09-02/ukraine-relations-belarus-suspended
14.
Kappeler, Andreas. “Ukraine and Russia: Legacies of the imperial past and competing memories,” Journal of Eurasian Studies, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2014, pp. 107-115, Sience Direct. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879366514000062
15.
Karatnycky, Adrian. “Ukraine's Orange Revolution.” Foreign Affairs, vol. 84, no. 2, 2005, pp. 35–52. JSTOR. Available from: www.jstor.org/stable/20034274
16.
Kobylyuk, Mykola. ““Joke” suggesting Romanian-Ukrainian war: What stands behind it,” UNIAN, 5 June 2019. Available from: https://www.unian.info/politics/10575381-joke-suggesting-romanian-ukrainian-war-what-stands-behind-it.html
17.
“Kuleba outlines priority issues of Ukraine-Poland relations,” Ukrinform, 28 July 2020. Available from: https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3071344-kuleba-outlines-priority-issues-of-ukrainepoland-relations.html
18.
Kupfer, Matthew. “Ukraine-Israel relations on the upswing, but challenges remain,” Kyiv Post, 9 May 2019. Available from: https://www.kyivpost.com/business/ukraine-israel-relations-on-the-upswing-but-challenges-remain.html
19.
Kuromiya, Hiroaki. “Ukraine and Eurasian History in the Twentieth Century.” Harvard Ukrainian Studies, vol. 34, no. 1/4, 2015, pp. 195–213. JSTOR. Available from: www.jstor.org/stable/44364492
20.
Kusa, Ilya. “Ukraine’s Uncertain Foreign Strategy amid Turkey’s Growing Regional Power,” Wilson Center, 13 February 2020. Available from: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/ukraines-uncertain-foreign-strategy-amid-turkeys-growing-regional-power
21.
Levonyuk, Tetyana. “A Trouble-Free Neighbor: What Should Ukraine Change in Relations with Slovakia?” New Europe Centre, 13 September 2019. Available from: http://neweurope.org.ua/en/analytics/bezproblemnyj-susid-shho-ukrayina-maye-zminyty-u-vidnosynah-zi-slovachchynoyu/
22.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. A History of Ukraine: The Land and Its Peoples, Second Edition 2nd Edition, University of Toronto Press, 2010.
23.
Masters, Jonathan. “Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia,” Council on Foreign Relations, 5 February 2020. Available from: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/ukraine-conflict-crossroads-europe-and-russia
24.
Matuszak, Sławomir. The oligarchic democracy. The influence of business groups on Ukrainian politics. OSW Studies, 2012, pp. 13-23. Available from: https://www.osw.waw.pl/sites/default/files/prace_42_en_0.pdf
25.
“Orange Revolution. Study Guide”, International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict, 2016. Available from: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Orange-Revolution-Study-Guide-2.pdf
26.
“Relations with Ukraine,” NATO, 12 June 2020. Available from: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_37750.htm
27.
Sasse, Gwendolyn. “Ukraine: The Role of Regionalism.” Journal of Democracy, Vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 99–106, 2010. Available from: https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/ukraine-the-role-of-regionalism/
28.
Schlein, Lisa. “Rights Violations Rampant in Parts of Ukraine, UN Report Says,” VOA News, 3 October 2020. Available from: https://www.voanews.com/europe/rights-violations-rampant-parts-ukraine-un-report-says
29.
Schmid, Ulrich, and Oksana Myshlovska (eds). Regionalism without Regions: Reconceptualizing Ukraine’s Heterogeneity. Central European University Press, pp. 3-24, 2019. JSTOR. Available from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7829/j.ctvs1g8jn
30.
Socor, Vladimir. “Ukraine and Hungary Move to Settle Differences Over National Minority Legislation, Part 1&Part 2,” Eurasia Daily Monitor, Vol. 17, No. 80-81, June 2020. Available from: https://jamestown.org/program/ukraine-and-hungary-move-to-settle-differences-over-national-minority-legislation-part-one/
31.
“Status Report as of 21 September 2020,” OSCE, 24 September 2020. Available from: https://www.osce.org/special-monitoring-mission-to-ukraine/464754
32.
“Ukraine Crisis Continent’s Most Pressing Challenge, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Chair Tells Council, Underlining Importance of Dialogue,” SC/14099, 6 February 2020, United Nations. Available from: https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/sc14099.doc.htm
33.
“Ukraine to Change Law on Bank Insolvency in Bid for IMF Loans,” Global Insolvency, 2020. Available from: https://globalinsolvency.com/headlines/ukraine-change-law-bank-insolvency-bid-imf-loans
34.
“Ukraine,” IMF, 2020. Available from: https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/UKR
35.
“Ukraine-Poland Relations,” ICPS, 2018. Available from: http://icps.com.ua/assets/uploads/images/files/ua_pl_relations_icps.pdf
36.
“Ukraine's revolution of dignity: The dynamics of Euromaidan,” Journal of Eurasian Studies, vol. 7, no. 1, 2016, pp. 85-91, Science Direct. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879366515000305
37.
“Understanding Ukraine’s Euromaidan Protests,” Open Society Foundations, 2019. Available from: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/explainers/understanding-ukraines-euromaidan-protests
38.
Wilson, Andrew. “Ukraine and the oligarchs: Endless delays to reform,” European Council on Foreign Relations, 13 May 2020. Available from: https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_ukraine_and_the_oligarchs_endless_delays_to_reform
Additional Reading
1.
The above list of Required Reading is not exhaustive, and it is expected that students choose additional literature. Furthermore, additional reading materials will be added at the launch of the course, taking into account the dynamic developments in Ukraine, its relations with its partners, as well as ongoing developments in the region/world. Suggested readings will also be provided for each of the seminars.
Other Information Sources
1.
“Eleven films about Euromaidan you can watch online,” Euromaidan Press, 2017. Available from: http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/02/21/10-films-about-euromaidan-you-can-watch-online/
2.
“Orange Revolution”, International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict. Available from: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/orange-revolution-english/