r/europe • u/MarktpLatz Lower Saxony (Germany) • Apr 03 '17

What do you know about... Ukraine?

This is the eleventh part of our ongoing series about the countries of Europe. You can find an overview here.

Todays country:

Ukraine

Ukraine is the largest country that is completely on the european continent. The Ungarian people's republic was founded in 1917, the ukrainian state in 1918. It later became part of the soviet union and finally got independent in 1991. Currently, Ukraine is facing military combat with russia-backed rebels and the crimean peninsula was completely annexed by Russia. Ukraine will host the next eurovision song contest.

So, what do you know about Ukraine?

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u/Slusny_Cizinec русский военный корабль, иди нахуй Apr 04 '17 edited Apr 04 '17

Ukraine/Poland border is the border between the East and the West. While Poland feels like a western nation with some eastern traits, Ukraine feels like an eastern nation with some western traits.

And Generally, UA-PL relations are classical love-hate. Lots of wars and cooperation, and I hope the both parties remember that one of the wars (in XVII century) effectively destroyed both parties.

Ukraine is one of the few nations hanging since the fall of the SSSR. Some joined EU and NATO, some became authoritarian hellholes, Ukraine remained in limbo. It's still there, the last attempt to escape it not yet secured.

Ukrainians have some aversion towards authority. This prevents Ukraine from becoming an authoritarian state, but also prevents any power consolidation needed to make bigger changes.

Plus, I know a lot of stuff about the geography, I've been to many places there, but it's not that important.

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u/Morfolk Ukraine Apr 04 '17

Ukrainians have some aversion towards authority.

Now that's an understatement. It does cause plenty of problems in state administration.

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u/MarsalJosipBrozTito Apr 06 '17

What are some Eastern/Western traits?

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u/Slusny_Cizinec русский военный корабль, иди нахуй Apr 06 '17

Well, these are probably minor things, but anyway:

Strong and independent cities, which were the cradle of the "new world order" against the medieval one; Magdeburg Rights.

Nobility: european knights vs "emperor's bureaucrats".

Serfdom abolition and the percentage of serfs.

Centralization of the church and its relations with rulers.

Defense strategy: hide in the castle vs hide in the woods/steppes.

Just to name a some.

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u/MarsalJosipBrozTito Apr 06 '17

Wait are those western or eastern?