The Ukrainians: Unexpected Nation; Second Edition

by Andrew Wilson

Book Overview

An account of Ukraine and its people. Andrew Wilson focuses on the complex relations between Ukraine and Russia and explains the different versions of the past propagated by Ukrainians and Russians. He also examines the continuing debates over identity, culture, and religion in Ukraine since its independence in 1991. This second edition is updated and includes coverage of the Yushchenko government and the Gongadze affair.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300093098
• ISBN13: 9780300093094
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Required Reading on Ukraine

Andrew Wilson's history of Ukraine is unlike any other book written on the subject. It does not attempt to cover the entire history of Ukraine from classical antiquity to the present, like Orest Subtelny's landmark book, Ukraine. Rather, the book's thesis looks backwards from Ukrainian Independence and asks how such a nation came into existence, and weighs its chances for survival. I grew up in a Ukrainian emigre community that taught one rigid perspective on Ukrainian history -- the Ukrainian nationalist perspective. Wilson's book shares this perspective, and more: he exposes the reader to the Russian perspective, the east Ukrainian perspective, and the various schools of thought of such past scholars such as Hrushevsky, Dontsov, Kostomarov, Malaniuk and Drahomanov. As other reviewers have mentioned, Wilson's book does a marvelous job of contrasting Ukraine's diverse regions: Galicia and Crimea are an excellent example of the contrast. He also contrasts the various sub-ethnoses of the Ukrainian people, a topic rarely discussed by Ukrainian nationalists: for example, the Galicians, the Carpatho-Rusyns, the Malorossy, the Novorossy, the Kuban Cossacks and the Rusichi. The discussion expands further to the question of minorities, most notably, the Russians. Wilson does an excellent job of contrasting their various perspectives and raises questions about how well they will be able to mesh to form a Ukrainian state. Ukrainian nationalists tend to assume that this is simply going to happen, but one look at the former Yugoslavia is a good reminder that sometimes nation-building doesn't work out as planned. In short, this is an outstanding read about the various perspectives of the people who make up Ukraine. It is illustrative about the challenges that lie ahead in creating a Ukrainian state, not the least of which is Ukraine's future orientation -- Europe, or Russia?

Topic best done by an outsider

Wilson covers a lot of ground and gives a good sense of the historical background and issues surrounding "what is a Ukrainian" without taking sides - something tough for a Russian, Ukrainian, or Pole to do. The current politics is really nicely covered - I had the opportunity to watch the Orange revolution first hand - and its interesting to see the pangs of democracy's birth - and wondering where it will go.

Well-written and Comprehensive On Current Events

I believe this book was very well-written and fair in its evaluation of Ukrainian history. I based these comments in part on my Ukrainian descent; and my travels and discussions with Ukrainian citizens. The book does a better(and excellent) job of reviewing fairly recent events in Ukrainian politics and demographics; than it does in reviewing Ukrainian history - but that appears to be intentional. As an American, I noticed what appeared to be British colloquialisms in several places that I didn't understand.

An Impressive Accomplishment

This book tries to do two jobs, and it does them both very well.The first task is to explain the history of the Ukrainian national idea. It is not really a history of the nation, but more of a history of how the consciousness that there was a people and nation came into existance. (In other words, he does not go into a lot of detail about cossack revolts and wars and the like, but he shows how these affected the way people thought.) Wilson does a trememdous job here.The second task of the book is to see what the Ukrainians have made of their independence since 1991. This is extremely important, since the American media has generally ignored Ukraine since independence and focused solely on Russia. I had a little trouble following all of Wilson's material here, since I had so little foundation on what has happened in Ukraine recently. However, Wilson presents his facts clearly, and where possible makes useful comparisons to developments in Russia, Czech Rep., Poland, etc., so I could get a handle on things.In short, this is simply a superb book, one that will take the reader very far in understanding Ukraine and the challenges before it.

Required Reading for a Knowledge of Modern Ukraine

If you want to know about Ukraine but don't read Ukrainian, this is the book for you. Beginning with the myths of pre-history and working up through 1999, Andrew Wilson gives the reader a sense of what it is to be Ukrainian. This is no easy task because Ukraine is a diverse place with a west that is totally different than its east, and with many regional differences in between. He calls it an unexpected nation because its ethnic, linguistic, religious and regional diversity makes it hard for many people to think of it as a single nation. He deals with the complex relationship Ukraine has with its eastern neighbor Russia. Many Ukrainians are of Russian descent and Russian is still the language spoken in many parts of the country. Both countries lay claim to Kyiv as their ancient capital and many of their ancient heroes are the same. Ukraine lies on the border between western Europe and Eurasian Russia. Its western people look to Europe for commerce and culture just as its eastern regions favor Russia. Although its borders have changed as often as its political fate, Wilson does an admirable job of inclusion. He writes about Western Ukraine, the Crimea and the Donbas (eastern Ukraine) as well as the Ukraine of Kyiv. Often this makes the book difficult to read because so many different regions and their unique perspectives must be taken into consideration. Yet this is what ultimately makes the book so rewarding. Although Wilson makes use of copious footnoting, most of his references are to Ukrainian language sources that will be inaccessible to his readers. He does an admirable job of introducing us to the major players in the shaping of this new nation; yet seeking out more on any particular aspect of the story may be difficult. Wilson does provide a fine Bibliographical Essay at the end of the book to further sources in English or other Western languages that will satisfy the interested reader seeking further information.The book has many fine black-and-white maps that illustrate the points in the text. Also included are two sections of black-and-white and color plates that bring life to many of the ideas presented. At the beginning of the book is a Chronology with two separate time lines: one for Politics and History and the second for Culture. This helps to put the wealth of information presented into a structured framework.The author focuses on economic, political and religious power and thought and the literary and artistic expression of these in fine arts and literature. His approach is chronological, working from ancient myths and their modern interpretations, through the history of the region, right on up to the present day and the 1998 elections. It would be marvelous if a new edition would come out that includes the results of the year 2000 elections.