Ukraine five years after the revolution – a success or a failure?
December 10th 2009, 6.00 p.m.
Venue: Agora, ul. Czerska 8/10 (Entrance from ul. Czerniakowska)
The Orange Revolution is often dubbed “Ukraine’s European revival”. To defend democratic principles, the hero of the Revolution, Viktor Yushchenko, mobilised millions of Ukrainian men and women to take to the streets. The flare-up in Maidan heralded new hope that Ukraine will yet become a free and democratic state. Five years on, Ukraine is disappointing. The objective of bringing Ukraine closer to the European Union and NATO has not been accomplished. The political rift pitting President Yushchenko, Prime Minister Tymoshenko and the opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych against one another has laid bare the falsehood of the alleged friendship between the revolutionary heroes and bogged down the necessary reform. Divisions in Ukraine still run deep and a debate about the ruptures in the country is ever ongoing.
Ukraine is mired by constant political difficulties, compounded with annual gas crises and the recent economic meltdown.
The Ukrainian political elite is the one to blame for the current situation – having squandered the social capital of the Orange Revolution it has also lost the public trust, both internationally and within the country itself. Unlike the general public, the political elite has failed the test in democracy. Today, with Ukraine heading for another election, the question as to whether Ukrainian citizens stand a chance of breaking the deadlock and continuing the democratic process is more topical than ever.
During the debate,
- Professor Jaroslav Hrycak – publicist and historian of the University of Lviv,
- Professor Miroslav Popovych – Director of Institute of Philosophy of National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kiev, and
- Andrew Wilson – European Council on Foreign Relations, London
will discuss the following questions:
- Five years on, what has the Orange Revolution changed in Ukraine? Will the revolutionary values of democracy and freedom survive? How much of the great change is still left in the society?
- Will the upcoming election put an end to political disputes and lead to national reforms? Are democratic transformations possible with the current political elite or must it be deposed if the effort of the Orange Revolution to achieve Ukrainian democracy is not to be wasted?
- Is a change of the elite possible in the Ukraine? What conditions would have to be met for the change to be possible? Is it possible through an evolution of the current elite or is another revolution necessary?
The meeting will be chaired by Marcin Wojciechowski from Gazeta Wyborcza.
The discussion will be held in Polish and English with simultaneous interpretation available. After the debate, you will be invited for a glass of wine and picture show from the orange Ukraine.