Nationalism in Ukraine: Towards a new theoretical and comparative framework

The misuse of the term 'nationalism' is common within contemporary Ukrainian studies, where it has a negative connotation and is defined in a very narrow manner. The roots of this misuse of 'nationalism' lie in three areas. First, Hans Kohn's division of 'nationalism' into a 'good, liberal, Western' and a 'bad, illiberal, Eastern' type is still highly influential. Ukraine allegedly falls into the latter category. Secondly, the assumption that a civic state requires no ethno-cultural attributes has led to criticism of 'nationalizing' policies in post-communist states such as Ukraine. Thirdly, the legacy of Soviet studies has led to a narrow definition of 'nationalism' in the non-Russian regions of the former USSR. Discussions of 'nationalism' within Ukraine have been largely undertaken within an area studies framework and not integrated into the theoretical literature on nation-building, identity and nationalism. This article seeks to engage critically with earlier discussions of 'nationalism' in Ukraine, and widen its definition by presenting a new framework for understanding the role of nationalism in Ukraine's nation- and state-building policies.