Ukrainian Revolution of 1914–1921: The European and Russian Dimension

Abstract

The article describes the contemporary conception of the Ukrainian revolution of 1914–1921, discussed in both the European and Russian dimension. The formation of political myths and ideologies of the Ukrainian national movement is also analyzed. The nation-building in Eastern Galicia was similar to the “Croatian project”, while that in Russian Ukraine resembled more the “Czechoslovakian project” of the creation of a nation. These two ways are considered as two models of development of the Ukrainian national project. The Ukrainian revolution is a period of the clash of civilizations, as well as their union, which was implemented in the Ukrainian national project. The analysis of the European and Russian dimension demonstrates that the Ukrainian state came into existence in a non-European world. The Ukrainian Revolution was a war for independence and also one of the liberation movement among non-historical nations in the East Central Europe. As a result, the Soviet period created conditions for the development of the modern Ukrainian nation.