Constructing a political nation : changes in the attitudes of Ukrainians during the War in the Donbas

What effect did Russia’s attack have on Ukrainian society and on public opinion? And how, in turn, did changes in public opinion and in society influence Ukrainian identity and politics? This book, prepared by the School for Policy Analysis, National University of Kyiv–Mohyla Academy with the participation of the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, shows that contrary to the Kremlin’s expectations, Russian aggression has in fact led to a strengthening of the Ukrainian political nation. The book covers national and regional dimensions of changes in the attitudes of Ukrainians during the war in the Donbas: identity issues, political and party preferences, approaches to decentralization and the conflict in the Donbas, economic sentiments, changes in foreign policy attitudes toward the EU, NATO, and Russia. Preface and Acknowledgments xiii 1. Decisive 2014: Did It Divide or Unite Ukraine? 1 Iryna Bekeshkina 2. The Party System after the Maidan: Regional Dimensions of an Unfinished Transformation 35 Iryna Bekeshkina and Oleksii Sydorchuk 3. Russian Aggression in the Donbas as a Factor in the Formation of Economic Sentiments in Ukraine 63 Ihor Burakovskiy 4. Changes in the Foreign Policy Orientations of Ukrainians after the Euromaidan: National and Regional Levels 111 Maria Zolkina and Olexiy Haran 5. Decentralization of Power in Ukraine: Achievements and Challenges 133 Oleksii Sydorchuk and Marharyta Chabanna 6. The Donbas: New Trends in Public Opinion 159 Maria Zolkina 7. Attitudes of Ukrainians toward Russia and Russians: Dynamics and Main Trends 183 Ruslan Kermach Afterword: Scenarios for the Donbas and Ukraine’s Path Forward 201 Contributors 221 Decisive 2014: did it divide or unite Ukraine? / Iryna Bekeshkina The party system after the Maidan: regional dimensions of the unifinished transformation / Iryna Bekeshkina and Oleksii Sydorchuk Russian aggression in the Donbas as a factor in the formation of economic sentiments in Ukraine / Ihor Burkovskiy Changes in the foreign policy orientations of Ukrainians after the Euromaidan: national and regional levels / Maria Zolkina and Olexiy Haran Decentralization of power in Ukraine: achievements and challenges / Oleksii Sydorchuk and Marharyta Chabanna The Donbas: new trends in public opinion / Maria Zolkina Attitudes of Ukrainians toward Russia and Russians: dynamics and main trends / Ruslan Kermach Afterword: scenarios for the Donbas and Ukraine's path forward.