Regional Historical Identities and Memory

Since 1991, the threats to territorial integrity and the lack of cultural and political cohesion are the most often mentioned challenges to the viability of the Ukrainian state. The dichotomous East-West conceptual framework is commonplace in any study of contemporary Ukraine. All attempts at elaborating and implementing consistent economic or foreign policy are as usually handicapped by the real or exaggerated fears of tensions between the eastern and western parts of the country. Pro-Western and pro-NATO policy could be opposed by Eastern Ukrainians, while pro-Russian orientation could hardly find support in the West; Western Ukraine elects moderate nationalists and liberals, while Eastern Ukraine electorate prefers left-oriented parties. This paper identifies historical past as an important factor of the cohesion/disintegration of the Ukrainians.