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Home>NewPoliticsVol.XVNo.1,WholeNumber57>UkraineBetweenaRockandaHardPlace

UkraineBetweenaRockandaHardPlaceby

ThegovernmentsoftheUnitedStatesandRussiaareattemptingtoshapeeventsinUkraineintheirowninterests,notforthebenefitoftheUkrainianpeople.UkrainianshavelongsufferedfromdominationbyMoscow,undertheRussianczarsandlaterintheSovietUnion,mosthorrificallyunderStalin.WiththeendofCommunismintheSovietUnionandEasternEurope,millionshopedforfreedomandanewbeginning.However,theUnitedStatesandWesternEuropeexploitedthecollapseoftheSovietsystemtoexpandtheirownmilitaryandeconomicpower,extendingNATOintoadozenformerlyCommunistnations(CzechRepublic,Hungary,Poland,Bulgaria,Estonia,Latvia,Lithuania,Romania,Slovenia,Slovakia,Albania,andCroatia),and,theyhoped,intoUkraineandGeorgiaaswell.Equallydestructive,theWestattemptedtouseitseconomicheft,shocktherapy,andinternationalfinancialinstitutionsliketheInternationalMonetaryFundandtheWorldBanktopushabrutalcapitalismonthepeopleoftheformerCommunistcountries.

Inlate2013massprotestseruptedinUkraineagainstthegovernmentofViktorYanukovych,culminatinginhugedemonstrationsofhundredsofthousands.Despitehavingbeenelected,Yanukovychwasarepressiveandgrotesquelycorruptrulerwholavisheduponhimselfobsceneprivileges,includingavastpersonalcompoundfurnishedwithaspa,azoo,alargeboat,amassivecarcollection,andagoldentoilet(!),whiledefendingtheinterestsofthewealthyoligarchswhosupportedhisgovernment.

InJanuary2014,YanukovychsignedaseriesofantidemocraticlawssimilartothosealreadyimposedonRussiansunderVladimirPutin,whichsharplylimitedfreedomofspeechandassembly.Asmassprotestsmounted,thegovernmentsentriotpoliceonFebruary18tobrutallyrepressthepeopleinthestreets.Twodayslater,riotpoliceagainfoughtagainstprotesters,andthebattleculminatedinsniperswhohadtakenpositionsonrooftopsshootingatdemonstrators.SomeMaidandetractorshavearguedthatthesniperswereactuallydeployedbytheoppositiontocreateanincidentthatwoulddiscreditthegovernment.Theevidenceforthistheoryisdubiousinanyevent,thecorruption,repressiveness,andundemocraticrecordoftheYanukovichgovernmentareindisputable,andgavemorethanadequatecausefortheuprising.

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TheMaidanwasanexpressionofmassdiscontentthathadbeenbuildingforyears,andcannotbeexplainedawayassimplytheresultofafalseflagoperationoraplotbyWashingtonthoughweknowthattheUnitedStatesandotherWesterncountrieshaveworkedtotakeadvantageofpopulardissatisfactionfortheirownpurposesandwilldoeverythingtheycantoseethattheradicaldemocraticpotentialoftheMaidandoesntcometofruition.TheywillbehelpedintheireffortsbythefactthattheUkrainianleftandlabormovementsareveryweak,leavingavacuumtobefilledbyleaderswhoembracetheneoliberalausteritymeasurespromotedbytheUnitedStatesandtheEuropeanUnion.ThesemeasureswillcausebittersufferingforthemassesofMaidanprotesters,manyofwhomhavebeenundertheillusionthatjoiningtheEuropeanUnionwillbringthemprosperityandadecentstandardofliving(anillusionheldaswellbymillionsinGreeceandothersouthernEuropeancountriesuntilbitterexperiencehasbeguntoshowthemotherwise).Inaddition,thoughthefarrightforcesofSvobodaandtheRightSectorwereonlyasmallportionoftheprotesters,theyplayedakeyroleinthephysicaldefenseoftheMaidanagainstviolentgovernmentattack.TodaythereareanumberoffarrightfiguresinthetemporarycoalitiongovernmentthatwashastilyconstitutedbyparliamentafterYanukovychleftKievitremainstobeseenwhethertheUkrainianpeoplewillpermitthesedangerouselementstoremaininleadinggovernmentpositions.

AfterYanukovych

Onceinpower,thenewpostYanukovychgovernmenttookstepsthatwerecertaintomakethecountryvulnerabletoRussianattemptstoundermineUkrainesindependence.First,parliamentpassedalawrevokingthestatusofRussianthenativetongueof30to40percentofUkrainiansasanofficiallanguageinareaswhereRussianspeakersconstituted10percentormoreofthepopulation.ThisreactionarylawwasquicklycanceledbythenewactingUkrainianpresident,

AleksandrTurchinov,whomusthavecometorealizethatitwouldsetoffanexplosivereaction.Butthedamagehadbeendone,fosteringsuspicionandhostilitytowardthenewgovernmentamongmanyRussianspeakers,particularlyintheeasternandsouthernregionsofthecountry.Compoundingthisdisastroussignalaboutlanguagerights,thenewgovernmentdeclaredfromtheoutsetthatitwouldadoptthecripplingeconomicmeasuresdemandedbytheEuropeanUnionandWesternfinancialinstitutions.ConsciousofhowhugelyunpopularthesocialcutsandprivatizationstheWestwasdemandingwouldbe,whenthenewprimeminister,ArsenyYatseniuk(famouslyknownfamiliarlyasYatstoU.S.AssistantSecretaryofStateforEuropeanandEurasianAffairsVictoriaNuland),announcedhisdeterminationtocarryoutharshausteritymeasures,heconceded,eerily,thatdoingsowouldmeanthatUkrainewouldbeledbyasuicidegovernment.

TheRightsofLessPowerfulCountries

NATOwasanimperialmilitaryalliancefromitsinception,andwiththeendoftheSovietempireitlostevenitsretrogradeColdWarrationaleforexistence.TheCampaignforPeaceandDemocracy,ofwhichIamCoDirector,andantiwarmovementsaroundtheworldcalledforNATOtodissolveafter1989(betterlatethannever).Instead,NATOaggressivelyextendeditsreachintotheformerSovietorbit.Thisfact,however,doesnotjustifyRussiasinterferenceinthedomesticaffairsofUkraine:supportingalightningreferenduminCrimeaundertheshadowofRussiantroopsandoperativesordeclaring,asPutinhas,thateasternandsouthernUkraineareNovorossiya(orNewRussia),signalingthatMoscowwouldbejustifiedinintervening,byforceifnecessary,todefendRussianspeakersinthatregion.Powerfulcountrieshavenorighttoturnneighboringnationsintobufferstatesbyinvokingsecurityasajustification.WhenrealorconcoctedsecuritythreatsareusedtojustifyimperialismbytheUnitedStates,Russia,oranyotherstrongmilitarypower,prospectsforpeaceanddemocracysufferaterribleblow.Ukrainiansfacecomplexandpressingproblemsinestablishingjustanddemocraticstructuresintheircountry,buttheyneedtoworkthroughthoseproblemswithoutimperialinterferencefromeithertheWestorRussia.ThenegotiatingpartnersshouldbeeasternandwesternUkrainians,nottheUnitedStates,theEuropeanUnion,orMoscow.

TheRussianannexationofCrimeaistobecondemnedbecauseoftheintimidatingwayinwhichitwasachieved(andtheprecedentthatwasthussetforfutureintimidation),andbecauseofthefactthatshortshriftwasgiventoconsideringtherightsofTatarsandUkrainianspeakers,whotogethermakeupathirdofCrimeaspopulation.ButthereisgoodreasontobelievethatthemajorityofCrimeanswouldhavefreelyvotedtorejoinRussiainafairreferendum,anditseemsdoubtfulthatCrimeawilleverreturntoUkraine.

However,accordingtorecentopinionpollsconductedbytheU.S.headquarteredPewResearchCenterandtheKyivInternationalInstituteofSociology,thesituationineasternandsouthernUkraineseemsquitedifferent:thegreatmajorityofthepopulationintheseregionssaythattheyaresuspiciousoftheKievgovernmentandwantameasureofautonomytoprotecttheirregionalinterests,butwishtoremainpartofUkraine.ArguablypeopleintheeastandsouthshouldhavetherighttosecedeandbecomeindependentorintegratedintoRussiaiftheysodesire,buttheirviewsshouldbeexpressedinlegitimatevotesthatwilleitherconfirmordisconfirmtheopinionpolls,notinhastyreferendumsconductedunderpressurefromunaccountablearmedgroupsandRussianmilitaryintimidation.(TothosewhosaythatRussiahasntintervenedmilitarilyinUkraine,myreplyistwofold:1)therearemorethanlikelysecretRussianoperativesplayingaroleineasternUkraineand,inanycase2)eveniftheRussiantroopsmassedontheborderwithUkrainehaventfiredashot,theyarebeingusedasaweapontointimidatethepopulation.DanielEllsbergusesametaphortomakethispointinanothercontext:hehasoftensaidthatwhentheU.S.threatensto

usenuclearweapons,itisinfactusingthem,justassomeonewhopointsagunatsomeonesheadinthemidstofaconfrontationisusingthatgunwhetherornotheactuallyfiresit.)

ApeacefulresolutionoftheUkrainiancrisiswilldoubtlessneedtoinvolvesomekindofsignificantlydecentralizedstructureforthecountry,thoughtheextentofregionalautonomyremainstobenegotiatedinhardbargainingbytherepresentativesofbothsides.However,ahugeobstacletodemocraticbargainingisthepresenceofultranationalistandfarrightelementsonbothsides.

UltraNationalistsandtheFarRight

ThefarrightpresenceinthenewKievgovernmenthasbeenbarelymentionedinthemainstreampressintheUnitedStates,butitissignificantandverytroubling,evenifitspositioninarulingcoalitionissubjecttochangeinthenearfuture.Fornow,thefarrightSvobodaPartyholdsimportantpositions:SvobodasOleksandrSychisdeputyprimeminister,thepartysIhorShvaikisagricultureminister,andAndriyMokhnykisecologyminister,whileformerSvobodaMPOlegMokhnytskyrunsthegeneralprosecutorsoffice.(ForSvobodasstatedprinciples,seetheAllUkrainianUnionSvobodaprogramProgramfortheProtectionofUkrainians.1)Svobodadeniesthatitisfascist,andhasgonetosomelengthstodistanceitsreputationfromitsneonazioriginsandpresentitselfassimplyarightwingnationalistparty.HoweverSvobodasracistandfascisticcolorationpersists:in2004,SvobodaleaderOlehTyahnybokgaveaspeechcallingforUkrainianstofightagainstaMuscoviteJewishmafia,2andcelebratedtheOrganizationofUkrainianNationalistsforhavingfoughtMoscovites,Germans,JewsandotherscumwhowantedtotakeawayourUkrainianstate.3In2012ahighlevelSvobodamember,YuriSirotyuk,chargedthattheselectionofpopstarGaitana,whowasborninUkrainetoaCongolesefatherandUkrainianmother,wasabadchoicetorepresentthecountryintheEurovisionsongcontestbecauseshewasnotauthenticallyUkrainian.ItlookslikewedontwanttoshowourfaceandUkrainewillbeassociatedwithadifferentcontinent,somewhereinAfrica.4ObserversdisagreeaboutwhetherSvobodaisproperlycategorizedasneofascist(Ibelieveitis),butthereisnodoubtthatitisdeeplyreactionary.

[Authorsnote,May27:ThisarticlewaswrittenbeforetheMay25elections.Electionresultsindicatethat,fornowatleast,thefarrighthasverylittlepopularsupport.AstheRussiannewsserviceRTconcededaboutthepresidentialexitpolls,Ultrarightradicalnationalistsappearedtohavecompletelyfailedintheelections,withSvoboda(Freedom)PartyheadOlegTyagniboksecuring1.17percentofthevoteandRightSectorleaderDmitryYaroshlessthanonepercent.5Atthetimeofwritingthisnote,finalvotingresultshavenotbeenconfirmed,buttheyaredescribedasapproximatingtheseverylowfigures.IntheKievmayoralelection,Svobodamayhavefaredsomewhatbetter,thoughstillnotwell:with40percentoftheballotscounted,thepartyscandidatereceived6.45percentofthevote.6]

AlthoughastrongcasecanbemadethatSvobodaisindeedneofascist,regardlessofhowonecharacterizestheparty,UkraineisnttodayafasciststatenonfascistneoliberalpartiesandPrimeMinisterArseniyYatseniuk[and,afterMay25,PetroPoroshenko]leadthegovernmentandfascistmeasureshavenotbeencarriedout.ButitisanominoussignthatreactionaryelementslikeSvobodahavebeenlegitimizedwithgovernmentposts.Intheabsenceofasuccessfulleftalternative,neoliberalausteritymeasuresarelikelytostrengthenneofascistandfarrightforcesadynamicwehaveseeninotherpartsofEurope,forexamplewiththeriseofGoldenDawninGreeceandtheFrontNationalinFrance.Recentstepstakenbythenewgovernmentgiveaforetasteoftheirplans:gaspriceshavebeenraisedby56percentandithasbeenannouncedthat

25,000civilservantsaretobelaidoffandchildsubsidiescut.

UltranationalistandfarrightelementsalsoplayasignificantroleontheproRussianside.Forexample,asTashShifrinnotesonherDreamDeferredwebsite,TheDonbassPeoplesMilitiaisledbyPavelGubarevaformermemberoffascistparamilitaryorganisation,RussianNationalUnityandoftheProgressiveSocialistPartyofUkraine,whichdespiteitsnameisalliedwiththeEurasianYouthUnionlinkedtoinfluentialRussianfascistAleksandrDugin.7Inhisarticleontheanarchistleaningwebsitetahriricn,LaurentMoerireportsthatthereisverydisturbinginformationaboutChetnikshavingbeeninvitedtojoinRussiansfightingtogetherwiththeCossackWolves(theWolvesareaparamilitaryorganizationknownfortheirruthlessnessandhaveengagedincombatinChechnyaaswellasinGeorgia).8AndinApril2014,AleksandrIvanovSukharevsky,leaderoftheRussianneoNaziPeoplesNationalParty,addressedtheproRussianforcesinSouthEasternUkrainegivingthemhisfullsupport(cited,withaphotoofSukharevskyspeakingthissiteshowsmanyotherexamplesoffarrightelementsamongtheproRussianforces9).

WithinRussia,VladimirPutinhasusedtheUkrainianconflicttofosterultranationalistsentimentsthatbuttresstheincreasingauthoritarianismofhisgovernment,whichismarkedbyhyperpatriotism,harshantiprotestlaws,repressionofjournalists,viciousdiscriminationagainstgays,andanunholyalliancewiththeRussianOrthodoxChurchthatwesawondisplayinthecruelpersecutionofPussyRiot.Itsnosurprise,then,thatPutinandtheRussiangovernmentarepraisedbyfarrightforcesthroughoutEurope,includingHungarysneoNaziJobbikparty,theBritishNationalParty,GoldenDawninGreece,theItalianFronteNazionale,andMarineLePensFrenchFrontNational.(Ironically,SvobodahadobserverstatuswiththeultranationalistAllianceofEuropeanNationalMovementsuntilMarchofthisyear,leavingonlyafterleadersoftheAllianceendorsedtheannexationofCrimeabyRussia.)InsideCrimea,therepressiveconsequencesofbeingbroughtintoMoscowsorbitareillustratedbythe(failed)attempttobanthismonthsTatarcommemorationofthe70thanniversaryofthedaythemassdeportationoftheirfamiliesbeganundertheordersofJosefStalin,andthecancellationoftheGayPrideparadescheduledforApril2223inlightoftheRussianlawbanninggaypropaganda.10

MuchhastobedonetorealizethedemocraticpromiseoftheMaidanuprising.Forstarters,theUkrainianpeopleneedtoinsistthatSvobodaberemovedfromthegoverningcoalition,andthattheKievgovernmentrepudiateitsdeadlydealwiththeEUandtheIMF.Butbeyondthesefirstnecessarysteps,ordinaryUkrainiansacrossthecountrydesperatelyneedtocreateademocraticleftmovement,withmembercontrolledunions11andpoliticalpartiesthatcanrepresentthem.Theyneednewradicalandsocialistpartiesthatcantakemajorenterprisesoutofthehandsoftheoligarchswhodominatewestern,eastern,andsouthernUkraine,nationalizethem,andplacethemunderthedemocraticcontrolofworkersandthelargersociety.TheyneedpartiesthatcanbuildanindependentUkraineunalignedwitheitherNATOorRussia,outsideoftheGermandominatedEuropeanUnionandtheRussiandominatedEurasianEconomicUnion,andfreetodevelopunrestrictedtraderelationshipswithallcountries.

Ukrainiansneedaninternationalenvironmentthatnourishesratherthanthwartsdemocracyintheircountry,andthatswherewecanhelp.WecanexpressoursolidaritywiththeUkrainianpeoplebydemandingthatRussiapermanentlywithdrawitstroopsfromtheUkrainianborderandceasemakinginterventionistthreats,andthattheWestceaseitsescalatingmilitarypresenceinEurope,movetodismantleNATO,andwithdrawitsdemandsforprivatizationandausterity.WecancallforaidwithoutimperialstringstoUkraineandothercountriesineconomiccrisis.InsupportingtheUkrainians,wearehelpingourselves.Afterall,weallneedawayoutofthecruelworldourmastershavemade.

May20,2014

ReadersmayalsobeinterestedinseeingtheCampaignforPeaceandDemocracysMarch10,2014statementOpposeNATO,RussianInterventioninCrimea,andtheIMF."

1.FindSvoboda'swebsitehere.

2.DavidStern,Svoboda:TheRiseofUkrainesultranationalists.

3.CitedinPerAndersRudling,RuthWodak,andJohnE.Richardson,eds.,TheReturnoftheUkrainianFarRight:TheCaseofVOSvoboda(Routledge,2013),229247.

4.MariaDanilova,Ukrainianpartyaccusedofracisminpopscandal,AssociatedPress,Feb.22,2012.

5.UkrainianoligarchPoroshenkoleadingpresracewithover50%votes,RT,May25,2014.

6.Klitschkoreceivesover56percentofvotesinKyivmayorelectionsaftercountingin40percentofwards,KyivPost,May27,2014.

7.TashShifrin,Ukraineslidestowardscivilwar:dontchooseasideinbattleofreaction,DreamDeferred,May5,2014.

8.LaurentMoeri,ExcuseMeMister:HowFarIsItFromSimferopolToGrozny?May19,2104.

9.AntonShekhovtsov,RussianandproRussianrightwingterroristsspreadingfearandhateinUkraine,April19,2014.

10.SeeDanielReynolds,RussiasGayPropagandaLawTakesEffectinCrimea,Advocate,May1,2014,citedbyKevinAndersoninhisarticleinthisissue,Ukraine:DemocraticAspirationsandInterimperialistRivalry.

11.SuchunionsaremissinginUkrainetoday.AsSeanLarsonnotesinContradictionsoftheRulingClassinUkraine,inthisissue,Theopinion[amongthepublic]predominatesthattradeunionsarerelicsofthecommunisteraforthepurposeoforganizingvacationsorchildrenssummercamps(functionslargelyresponsibleforsustainingunionmembership)ratherthanfightingorganizationspushingfortheinterestsofworkersonthejobandinpolitics.

Note:themapwasdrawnbyLisaLyons,basedonanoriginalmapatwww.polgeonow.com.Source:Ukraine2001Census.[Weregretthatweomittedthisnotefromtheprintissue.]

SourceURL:http://newpol.org/content/ukrainebetweenrock%E2%80%A8andhardplace

Links:[1]http://twitter.com/share[2]http://www.cpdweb.org/letters/Ukraine.shtml[3]http://newpol.org/category/topic/warandpeace[4]http://newpol.org/category/topic/socialprotests[5]http://newpol.org/category/places/russiaussr[6]http://newpol.org/category/places/europe/easterneurope/ukraine[7]http://newpol.org/category/issue/57

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