This document provides an overview of the sociocultural and demographic contexts of Roma populations in Ukraine. Some key points:
- Roma make up one of the national minorities in Ukraine's multi-ethnic population and have a long history in the country dating back to the 16th century.
- Census data shows the Roma population grew from 19,300 in 1926 to 47,600 in 2001, with over half living in urban areas. However, estimates suggest the true population may be four times higher.
- Roma face socioeconomic challenges like high unemployment, especially among women, and low levels of education, limiting employment opportunities. Many Roma also experience poverty.
- While most Roma
Russians (Russkiye) in Ukraine: Mythicizing the Myths presentation New Yorkyevtukh
The document discusses myths related to Russians (Russkiye) in Ukraine. It identifies several myths, including that development in Ukraine depends on how national minorities view consolidation processes; interpretations of "pro-Russian" and "pro-Russian" ideology; and claims that Russkiye face pressure from Ukrainian national forces. It notes politicians, publicists, and pro-Russian researchers in both Ukraine and Russia promote these myths. The document also examines attitudes toward ethnic diversity in Ukraine and language policies.
Russkiye in Ukraine: Myth Versus Realities or Vice Versayevtukh
This document discusses myths about the socio-economic, political, and cultural situation of Russkiye (ethnic Russians) in Ukraine. It identifies several common myths, including that Russkiye are under pressure from Ukrainian nationalist forces seeking to eliminate Russian language and culture, and that Russkiyesness (Russian identity) is rapidly deforming and becoming extinct. The document analyzes the sources and spread of these myths by Ukrainian and Russian researchers and publicists. It proposes to examine claims about Russkiye in Ukraine using reliable information and data in order to assess the validity of these myths.
Wetland restoration and fish passage solutions near Retiș Dam!Răzvan Voicu
The document discusses the human population dynamics of Ukrainian villages in Maramureş County, Romania between 1905-2011. It finds that the total Ukrainian population in the county grew from 16,384 people in 1905 to a peak of 38,403 in 1992, before declining to 35,217 by 2011. The largest number of Ukrainians live in the villages of Ruska Polyana, Remety, and Ruskova. Population growth was slow and fluctuated depending on historical events like World War 2 and economic conditions. The Ukrainian population makes up the majority in many villages but has declined as a percentage of the total county population in recent decades.
Post communist europe always_different_from_the_restMarcin Nagraba
This document summarizes a keynote address given at a conference on the transition from totalitarianism to democracy in Central-Eastern Europe. The talk provides:
1. A brief historical account of the divisions between Eastern and Western Europe.
2. Comparisons of socio-economic indices and psychological dimensions of culture between post-communist and non-communist European countries over the last 10 years, finding post-communist countries lagging.
3. A model showing the relationship between socio-economic prosperity, psychological dimensions of culture, and subjective well-being, with post-communism negatively impacting all.
This document summarizes an article that examines the position of ethnic minorities in Armenia in light of recent constitutional reforms. It notes that Armenia has a very small non-Armenian population of under 3% belonging to groups like Yezidis, Assyrians, Russians, and others. The recent Armenian constitution recognizes the rights of ethnic minorities to preserve their culture, religion, and language. However, providing public education in minority languages remains challenging given Armenia's history and Russian influence. The document also provides historical context on Armenia's relations with ethnic minorities and the shared hardships that have fostered cultural understanding and respect between Armenians and some minority groups.
A ghost in the mirror russian soft power in ukrainePim Piepers
Russia views maintaining influence over Ukraine as an existential imperative, as many in Russia's political elite see Ukraine as part of Russia's identity. Russia relies on national myths and narratives to try to bind Ukraine to a "common future" with Russia and other post-Soviet states. These narratives are translated into influence through channels like the Orthodox Church, media, business networks, and NGOs. Russia also achieves influence by mobilizing constituencies around issues like language and shared history. However, Russia's socio-economic model limits its capacity to act as an attraction, so it relies more on symbolic resources and identity politics.
Migrant Integration: The European Experience and Prospects for RussiaRussian Council
This working paper was prepared as part of the Russian International Affairs Council’s project International Migration Processes: Trends, Challenges and Prospects. Whereas Europe has dealt with mass influxes of immigrants since the 1950s, Russia only encountered this phenomenon relatively recently. Europe’s experience with migrant integration, which will be considered in this working paper, might be useful to Russia in resolving similar issues. The author identifies a range of specific programmes and measures to ease the process of including immigrants and their descendants into the host country’s social institutions, and he offers several recommendations regarding the prospects for integrating migrants in Russia.
This document discusses the changing identity of Georgian nobles in the 19th century as Georgia transitioned from being independent kingdoms to being annexed by the Russian Empire in 1801. It describes how the Georgian nobility initially lost political power and privileges but some were able to obtain positions in the Russian civil and military administration. Many young nobles from impoverished families studied abroad in Russian universities, exposing them to new ideas. This created a conflict between their traditional upbringing and the modernizing influences from Russia. The document examines the tensions faced by this generation, called the "Tergdaleulebi", as they straddled two different worlds and identities upon returning to Georgia.
Russians (Russkiye) in Ukraine: Mythicizing the Myths presentation New Yorkyevtukh
The document discusses myths related to Russians (Russkiye) in Ukraine. It identifies several myths, including that development in Ukraine depends on how national minorities view consolidation processes; interpretations of "pro-Russian" and "pro-Russian" ideology; and claims that Russkiye face pressure from Ukrainian national forces. It notes politicians, publicists, and pro-Russian researchers in both Ukraine and Russia promote these myths. The document also examines attitudes toward ethnic diversity in Ukraine and language policies.
Russkiye in Ukraine: Myth Versus Realities or Vice Versayevtukh
This document discusses myths about the socio-economic, political, and cultural situation of Russkiye (ethnic Russians) in Ukraine. It identifies several common myths, including that Russkiye are under pressure from Ukrainian nationalist forces seeking to eliminate Russian language and culture, and that Russkiyesness (Russian identity) is rapidly deforming and becoming extinct. The document analyzes the sources and spread of these myths by Ukrainian and Russian researchers and publicists. It proposes to examine claims about Russkiye in Ukraine using reliable information and data in order to assess the validity of these myths.
Wetland restoration and fish passage solutions near Retiș Dam!Răzvan Voicu
The document discusses the human population dynamics of Ukrainian villages in Maramureş County, Romania between 1905-2011. It finds that the total Ukrainian population in the county grew from 16,384 people in 1905 to a peak of 38,403 in 1992, before declining to 35,217 by 2011. The largest number of Ukrainians live in the villages of Ruska Polyana, Remety, and Ruskova. Population growth was slow and fluctuated depending on historical events like World War 2 and economic conditions. The Ukrainian population makes up the majority in many villages but has declined as a percentage of the total county population in recent decades.
Post communist europe always_different_from_the_restMarcin Nagraba
This document summarizes a keynote address given at a conference on the transition from totalitarianism to democracy in Central-Eastern Europe. The talk provides:
1. A brief historical account of the divisions between Eastern and Western Europe.
2. Comparisons of socio-economic indices and psychological dimensions of culture between post-communist and non-communist European countries over the last 10 years, finding post-communist countries lagging.
3. A model showing the relationship between socio-economic prosperity, psychological dimensions of culture, and subjective well-being, with post-communism negatively impacting all.
This document summarizes an article that examines the position of ethnic minorities in Armenia in light of recent constitutional reforms. It notes that Armenia has a very small non-Armenian population of under 3% belonging to groups like Yezidis, Assyrians, Russians, and others. The recent Armenian constitution recognizes the rights of ethnic minorities to preserve their culture, religion, and language. However, providing public education in minority languages remains challenging given Armenia's history and Russian influence. The document also provides historical context on Armenia's relations with ethnic minorities and the shared hardships that have fostered cultural understanding and respect between Armenians and some minority groups.
A ghost in the mirror russian soft power in ukrainePim Piepers
Russia views maintaining influence over Ukraine as an existential imperative, as many in Russia's political elite see Ukraine as part of Russia's identity. Russia relies on national myths and narratives to try to bind Ukraine to a "common future" with Russia and other post-Soviet states. These narratives are translated into influence through channels like the Orthodox Church, media, business networks, and NGOs. Russia also achieves influence by mobilizing constituencies around issues like language and shared history. However, Russia's socio-economic model limits its capacity to act as an attraction, so it relies more on symbolic resources and identity politics.
Migrant Integration: The European Experience and Prospects for RussiaRussian Council
This working paper was prepared as part of the Russian International Affairs Council’s project International Migration Processes: Trends, Challenges and Prospects. Whereas Europe has dealt with mass influxes of immigrants since the 1950s, Russia only encountered this phenomenon relatively recently. Europe’s experience with migrant integration, which will be considered in this working paper, might be useful to Russia in resolving similar issues. The author identifies a range of specific programmes and measures to ease the process of including immigrants and their descendants into the host country’s social institutions, and he offers several recommendations regarding the prospects for integrating migrants in Russia.
This document discusses the changing identity of Georgian nobles in the 19th century as Georgia transitioned from being independent kingdoms to being annexed by the Russian Empire in 1801. It describes how the Georgian nobility initially lost political power and privileges but some were able to obtain positions in the Russian civil and military administration. Many young nobles from impoverished families studied abroad in Russian universities, exposing them to new ideas. This created a conflict between their traditional upbringing and the modernizing influences from Russia. The document examines the tensions faced by this generation, called the "Tergdaleulebi", as they straddled two different worlds and identities upon returning to Georgia.
MOLDOVA: CHANGE OF POWER AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS –EU INTEGRATION?IDIS Viitorul
The document discusses Moldova's political and ethnic identities, as well as its current domestic and foreign policy developments. It provides background on Moldova declaring independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union, and the ongoing conflict with Transnistria. It also examines Moldova's orientation toward the West and prospects for European Union integration versus ties to Russia.
Bucharest wishes to be named the European Capital of Culture in 2021 to help overcome its fragmented nature and transition between Eastern and Western influences. As Romania's capital and largest city with nearly 2 million inhabitants, Bucharest has a rich cultural heritage and is a center for arts universities but lacks a unified cultural strategy. Its cultural life is divided between traditional sectors like theaters, museums, and independent contemporary arts organizations. Being selected could help Bucharest develop its cultural potential, connect more with Europe, and boost its economy through cultural tourism.
This newsletter issue provides information about an interest group focused on the postal history of Carpathian Ukraine. It includes pictures and postcards from the early 1900s time period showing places like Volosyanka. It also summarizes information from other sources about early airmail routes in the region during Czechoslovak rule, including a short-lived airmail connection between Spišská Nová Ves and Užhorod in June 1919 to reconnect separated army groups. Finally, it shows several covers and postcards mailed from Volosyanka and Užok during the Czechoslovak period in the early 20th century.
The author analyzes how the concept of “traditional values” is used in the political discourse
of the Russian authorities. Since the third term of Vladimir Putin, there has been a noticeable
neo-conservative turn in Russian politics, expressed both in the strengthening of the influence
of religion and in the tightening of legislation. An active role in this is played by the leadership
of the Russian Orthodox Church, which openly supports the current regime and strengthens
its own influence on public life, regardless of the absence of direct religious demands of Russian society. The concept of “traditional values” is thus politically motivated, interpreted as an
opposition to liberal values (an example is the homophobic policy of the Russian authorities)
and is aimed at contrasting Russian values with Western ones. The author describes how this
discourse is aimed, principally, at consolidating the conservative electorate within the country
and spreading Russian influence on “conservatives” from other countries. This reflects the need
to search for effective ways to counter populist rhetoric.
2014.9 journal of literature and art studiesDoris Carly
This document summarizes Jean-Paul Sartre's analysis of "Negro poetry" from the Negritude movement as featured in his work Black Orpheus. It begins by examining the racial context between Europeans and Blacks that Sartre outlines, with Europeans dominant over Blacks. It then discusses how the Negritude movement and Negro poetry attempted to subvert this dominance through anti-racist political stances and innovative cultural works. However, it argues that this poetry did not fully challenge racist and sexist biases against Black women in European culture. While Negro poetry was an important step, Sartre viewed Negritude as just a stage in developing Black consciousness.
Igor Krasavin is a Russian national born in 1981 who currently works as an Assistant Professor at Ural Federal University in Yekaterinburg, Russia. He received his PhD from Ural State University in 2008 and has extensive experience managing research projects and publishing papers on topics related to social theory, political economy, and international relations. He is fluent in Russian and English and has worked on projects throughout Europe, focusing on issues related to ethnic minorities.
Program of the III-rd Session of Volodymyr Yevtukh Ethnosociological School e...yevtukh
The third session of Professor Yevtukh's Ethnosociological School was held on June 4, 2012 at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. The subject was "Ethnicity in the Framework of Intercultural Communication". Speakers included professors from Jagiellonian University and the National Dragomanov University in Kyiv. Discussants participated from universities in Australia and Denmark. Participants discussed concepts of ethnicity and intercultural communication, the functioning of ethnicity in cultural spaces, intercultural competence, and teaching intercultural communication in polyethnic societies. Remarks were invited on these topics and related subjects.
1) The migration situation in Ukraine is complex due to various political, economic, ethnic, and social factors both within and outside the country. It remains difficult and problems are increasing.
2) Ukraine experiences both legal and illegal immigration, including refugees from conflicts in neighboring countries and economic migrants. It also struggles with emigration of educated citizens and illegal immigration activities like human trafficking.
3) Improving Ukraine's socioeconomic conditions could increase legal and illegal immigration by making it a more attractive destination, further complicating the migration situation. The government is working to develop effective migration legislation and management systems to regulate migration flows.
Ukraines ethnic minorities between politics and realityyevtukh
This document discusses Ukraine's ethnic minorities and the country's policies toward them. It notes that Ukraine has over 120 ethnic groups and its population can be considered multiethnic. It then outlines some key aspects of what constitutes an ethnic minority, including shared descent, culture, and identity. It describes Ukraine's laws guaranteeing equal rights and supporting minority language and cultural development. However, it argues that strong ethnic minority structures are also important for preserving distinctiveness. Many of Ukraine's minorities are still establishing institutional structures after Soviet policies of forming a single Soviet people. Coordinating with ethnic homelands could help minorities and integrate them without conflict into Ukrainian society.
This document discusses ethnic problems and regulations in Ukraine. It notes that Ukraine has a multi-ethnic population composition, like many other countries. Discrimination and inequality faced by some ethnic and immigrant groups is caused by factors like unsatisfactory socioeconomic development, weak social infrastructure for minorities, and deficient legislation regarding minority rights. Some groups that sometimes feel uncomfortable or experience discrimination include Bulgarians, Armenians, Gagauzians, Greeks, Jews, Karaims, Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks, Germans, Roma, Russians, Romanians, Hungarians, and immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. Problems occur in legislative, socio-economic, socio-humanitarian, public/political,
Ethnic minorities in Ukraine have experienced a revival since independence in 1991, with growing ethnic self-awareness and participation in social, economic, and political life. This is evidenced by increases in minority populations between censuses from 1989 to 2001, the formation of over 1,300 civic organizations, and growth in schools teaching minority languages. However, this revival has also led to tensions, as minorities strive for autonomy and separatism, and compete for influence, causing issues between groups like Crimean Tatars and Russians. To manage tensions, Ukraine needs effective ethnic cultural management, ethnic cultural competence, and intercultural education to foster understanding between groups.
Ethnic Problems on Ukrainian Space: Actuality and Regulationsyevtukh
Volodymyr YEVTUKH discusses ethnic problems in Ukraine and argues that discrimination exists against certain groups. He identifies several ethnic groups that face disadvantages, including Bulgarians, Armenians, Gagausians, Greeks, Jews, Karaims, Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks, Germans, Roma, Russians, Romanians, Hungarians, and immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. He analyzes problems in five spheres: legislative, socio-economic, socio-humanitarian, public/political activities, and individual/personal relations. In particular, he notes high unemployment and issues with privatization have negatively impacted returned deportees, while lack of education in minority languages presents challenges. Overall
The Ukraine has experienced large migrations of people throughout its history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, over 200,000 Ukrainians emigrated to places like the US, Canada, and Argentina due to poverty and political discrimination under Austrian-Hungarian rule. After World War 2 and the fall of the Soviet Union, migration increased further as Ukrainians left unsatisfied with economic and political conditions or due to conflicts. Surveys in the 1990s found that over 10% wanted to permanently emigrate and over 50% would temporarily work abroad. While intentions to emigrate were high, actual emigration numbers were lower due to political and bureaucratic barriers. Ukraine also experiences transit migration as people pass through on their way to Western countries.
07.03.2020. Koryo-Saram - A missing meso-link?Evgenia An
Presentation "Koryo-Saram - A missing meso-link?"
by Evgenia An (PhD Candidate, Goethe University, Frankfurt)
for the Conference "Strange Korean Parallels", Helsinki.
The aim of the paper is to explore the cultural context of the conflict in
eastern Ukraine. From this perspective, the conflict in Donbas has to be seen not
only in the context of a political game, socio-economic transition and geopolitical
interests, but also in the light of a cultural conflict rooted in history. According to
Ukrainian researcher Mykola Riabchuk, Ukraine is divided, not between ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, but between two different types of Ukrainian identity. These
profound differences have been exacerbated by the events of the “Euromaidan” and,
subsequently, the violent conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared
Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics on the one hand and the post-revolutionary
Ukrainian government on the other. This article focuses on how the cultural divisions
of Ukrainian society have been used since the beginning of Ukrainian independence
by the political elite as a tool of symbolic politics, contributing to the mass mobilization of Ukrainian society and the outbreak of a violent conflict.
This document discusses the role of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in managing ethno-political issues in Ukraine. It outlines three aspects of ethno-political management: 1) operational management through government departments, 2) implementation of programs and policies, and 3) influence of NGOs representing national minorities. The goal of ethno-political management is to realize the rights of ethnic minorities while preventing conflicts through administrative, financial, and organizational support for minority education, culture, media, and organizations.
This document discusses the history and demographics of national minorities in Ukraine. It describes how various ethnic groups came to settle in different regions of Ukraine over centuries, including Russians, Belarusians, Poles, Bulgarians, Jews, Moldovans, Hungarians, Romanians, Greeks, Armenians, and Crimean Tartars. It provides population statistics on these groups from censuses in 1979 and 1989. The largest national minorities are Russians, who make up over 11% of the population, and are concentrated in eastern and southern Ukraine. Belarusians and Poles also have significant populations in Ukraine.
Koreans in ethnicnational population structure of ukraineyevtukh
The document discusses the Korean ethnic community in Ukraine in the context of changes to Ukraine's ethnic-national population structure and ethnic renaissance. It analyzes whether Koreans can be considered a national minority based on criteria like ethnic origin, population size, citizenship, compact settlement areas, and efforts to preserve ethnic identity and culture. While Koreans immigrated to Ukraine recently, the document argues they can now be viewed as a national minority due to establishing communities, organizations to maintain their culture, and constituting a small but distinct ethnic group with Ukrainian citizenship.
Iii Stalin's SSSR; Nationalities Question And SuccessionJim Powers
This presentation discusses the Nationalities Question in the formation of the USSR, Stalin's role as Peoples Commissar for Nationalities Affairs, and his struggle to succeed Lenin as Vozhd
MOLDOVA: CHANGE OF POWER AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS –EU INTEGRATION?IDIS Viitorul
The document discusses Moldova's political and ethnic identities, as well as its current domestic and foreign policy developments. It provides background on Moldova declaring independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union, and the ongoing conflict with Transnistria. It also examines Moldova's orientation toward the West and prospects for European Union integration versus ties to Russia.
Bucharest wishes to be named the European Capital of Culture in 2021 to help overcome its fragmented nature and transition between Eastern and Western influences. As Romania's capital and largest city with nearly 2 million inhabitants, Bucharest has a rich cultural heritage and is a center for arts universities but lacks a unified cultural strategy. Its cultural life is divided between traditional sectors like theaters, museums, and independent contemporary arts organizations. Being selected could help Bucharest develop its cultural potential, connect more with Europe, and boost its economy through cultural tourism.
This newsletter issue provides information about an interest group focused on the postal history of Carpathian Ukraine. It includes pictures and postcards from the early 1900s time period showing places like Volosyanka. It also summarizes information from other sources about early airmail routes in the region during Czechoslovak rule, including a short-lived airmail connection between Spišská Nová Ves and Užhorod in June 1919 to reconnect separated army groups. Finally, it shows several covers and postcards mailed from Volosyanka and Užok during the Czechoslovak period in the early 20th century.
The author analyzes how the concept of “traditional values” is used in the political discourse
of the Russian authorities. Since the third term of Vladimir Putin, there has been a noticeable
neo-conservative turn in Russian politics, expressed both in the strengthening of the influence
of religion and in the tightening of legislation. An active role in this is played by the leadership
of the Russian Orthodox Church, which openly supports the current regime and strengthens
its own influence on public life, regardless of the absence of direct religious demands of Russian society. The concept of “traditional values” is thus politically motivated, interpreted as an
opposition to liberal values (an example is the homophobic policy of the Russian authorities)
and is aimed at contrasting Russian values with Western ones. The author describes how this
discourse is aimed, principally, at consolidating the conservative electorate within the country
and spreading Russian influence on “conservatives” from other countries. This reflects the need
to search for effective ways to counter populist rhetoric.
2014.9 journal of literature and art studiesDoris Carly
This document summarizes Jean-Paul Sartre's analysis of "Negro poetry" from the Negritude movement as featured in his work Black Orpheus. It begins by examining the racial context between Europeans and Blacks that Sartre outlines, with Europeans dominant over Blacks. It then discusses how the Negritude movement and Negro poetry attempted to subvert this dominance through anti-racist political stances and innovative cultural works. However, it argues that this poetry did not fully challenge racist and sexist biases against Black women in European culture. While Negro poetry was an important step, Sartre viewed Negritude as just a stage in developing Black consciousness.
Igor Krasavin is a Russian national born in 1981 who currently works as an Assistant Professor at Ural Federal University in Yekaterinburg, Russia. He received his PhD from Ural State University in 2008 and has extensive experience managing research projects and publishing papers on topics related to social theory, political economy, and international relations. He is fluent in Russian and English and has worked on projects throughout Europe, focusing on issues related to ethnic minorities.
Program of the III-rd Session of Volodymyr Yevtukh Ethnosociological School e...yevtukh
The third session of Professor Yevtukh's Ethnosociological School was held on June 4, 2012 at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. The subject was "Ethnicity in the Framework of Intercultural Communication". Speakers included professors from Jagiellonian University and the National Dragomanov University in Kyiv. Discussants participated from universities in Australia and Denmark. Participants discussed concepts of ethnicity and intercultural communication, the functioning of ethnicity in cultural spaces, intercultural competence, and teaching intercultural communication in polyethnic societies. Remarks were invited on these topics and related subjects.
1) The migration situation in Ukraine is complex due to various political, economic, ethnic, and social factors both within and outside the country. It remains difficult and problems are increasing.
2) Ukraine experiences both legal and illegal immigration, including refugees from conflicts in neighboring countries and economic migrants. It also struggles with emigration of educated citizens and illegal immigration activities like human trafficking.
3) Improving Ukraine's socioeconomic conditions could increase legal and illegal immigration by making it a more attractive destination, further complicating the migration situation. The government is working to develop effective migration legislation and management systems to regulate migration flows.
Ukraines ethnic minorities between politics and realityyevtukh
This document discusses Ukraine's ethnic minorities and the country's policies toward them. It notes that Ukraine has over 120 ethnic groups and its population can be considered multiethnic. It then outlines some key aspects of what constitutes an ethnic minority, including shared descent, culture, and identity. It describes Ukraine's laws guaranteeing equal rights and supporting minority language and cultural development. However, it argues that strong ethnic minority structures are also important for preserving distinctiveness. Many of Ukraine's minorities are still establishing institutional structures after Soviet policies of forming a single Soviet people. Coordinating with ethnic homelands could help minorities and integrate them without conflict into Ukrainian society.
This document discusses ethnic problems and regulations in Ukraine. It notes that Ukraine has a multi-ethnic population composition, like many other countries. Discrimination and inequality faced by some ethnic and immigrant groups is caused by factors like unsatisfactory socioeconomic development, weak social infrastructure for minorities, and deficient legislation regarding minority rights. Some groups that sometimes feel uncomfortable or experience discrimination include Bulgarians, Armenians, Gagauzians, Greeks, Jews, Karaims, Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks, Germans, Roma, Russians, Romanians, Hungarians, and immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. Problems occur in legislative, socio-economic, socio-humanitarian, public/political,
Ethnic minorities in Ukraine have experienced a revival since independence in 1991, with growing ethnic self-awareness and participation in social, economic, and political life. This is evidenced by increases in minority populations between censuses from 1989 to 2001, the formation of over 1,300 civic organizations, and growth in schools teaching minority languages. However, this revival has also led to tensions, as minorities strive for autonomy and separatism, and compete for influence, causing issues between groups like Crimean Tatars and Russians. To manage tensions, Ukraine needs effective ethnic cultural management, ethnic cultural competence, and intercultural education to foster understanding between groups.
Ethnic Problems on Ukrainian Space: Actuality and Regulationsyevtukh
Volodymyr YEVTUKH discusses ethnic problems in Ukraine and argues that discrimination exists against certain groups. He identifies several ethnic groups that face disadvantages, including Bulgarians, Armenians, Gagausians, Greeks, Jews, Karaims, Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks, Germans, Roma, Russians, Romanians, Hungarians, and immigrants from Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. He analyzes problems in five spheres: legislative, socio-economic, socio-humanitarian, public/political activities, and individual/personal relations. In particular, he notes high unemployment and issues with privatization have negatively impacted returned deportees, while lack of education in minority languages presents challenges. Overall
The Ukraine has experienced large migrations of people throughout its history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, over 200,000 Ukrainians emigrated to places like the US, Canada, and Argentina due to poverty and political discrimination under Austrian-Hungarian rule. After World War 2 and the fall of the Soviet Union, migration increased further as Ukrainians left unsatisfied with economic and political conditions or due to conflicts. Surveys in the 1990s found that over 10% wanted to permanently emigrate and over 50% would temporarily work abroad. While intentions to emigrate were high, actual emigration numbers were lower due to political and bureaucratic barriers. Ukraine also experiences transit migration as people pass through on their way to Western countries.
07.03.2020. Koryo-Saram - A missing meso-link?Evgenia An
Presentation "Koryo-Saram - A missing meso-link?"
by Evgenia An (PhD Candidate, Goethe University, Frankfurt)
for the Conference "Strange Korean Parallels", Helsinki.
The aim of the paper is to explore the cultural context of the conflict in
eastern Ukraine. From this perspective, the conflict in Donbas has to be seen not
only in the context of a political game, socio-economic transition and geopolitical
interests, but also in the light of a cultural conflict rooted in history. According to
Ukrainian researcher Mykola Riabchuk, Ukraine is divided, not between ethnic Russians and Ukrainians, but between two different types of Ukrainian identity. These
profound differences have been exacerbated by the events of the “Euromaidan” and,
subsequently, the violent conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared
Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics on the one hand and the post-revolutionary
Ukrainian government on the other. This article focuses on how the cultural divisions
of Ukrainian society have been used since the beginning of Ukrainian independence
by the political elite as a tool of symbolic politics, contributing to the mass mobilization of Ukrainian society and the outbreak of a violent conflict.
This document discusses the role of government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in managing ethno-political issues in Ukraine. It outlines three aspects of ethno-political management: 1) operational management through government departments, 2) implementation of programs and policies, and 3) influence of NGOs representing national minorities. The goal of ethno-political management is to realize the rights of ethnic minorities while preventing conflicts through administrative, financial, and organizational support for minority education, culture, media, and organizations.
This document discusses the history and demographics of national minorities in Ukraine. It describes how various ethnic groups came to settle in different regions of Ukraine over centuries, including Russians, Belarusians, Poles, Bulgarians, Jews, Moldovans, Hungarians, Romanians, Greeks, Armenians, and Crimean Tartars. It provides population statistics on these groups from censuses in 1979 and 1989. The largest national minorities are Russians, who make up over 11% of the population, and are concentrated in eastern and southern Ukraine. Belarusians and Poles also have significant populations in Ukraine.
Koreans in ethnicnational population structure of ukraineyevtukh
The document discusses the Korean ethnic community in Ukraine in the context of changes to Ukraine's ethnic-national population structure and ethnic renaissance. It analyzes whether Koreans can be considered a national minority based on criteria like ethnic origin, population size, citizenship, compact settlement areas, and efforts to preserve ethnic identity and culture. While Koreans immigrated to Ukraine recently, the document argues they can now be viewed as a national minority due to establishing communities, organizations to maintain their culture, and constituting a small but distinct ethnic group with Ukrainian citizenship.
Iii Stalin's SSSR; Nationalities Question And SuccessionJim Powers
This presentation discusses the Nationalities Question in the formation of the USSR, Stalin's role as Peoples Commissar for Nationalities Affairs, and his struggle to succeed Lenin as Vozhd
Claims of some officials at the state as well as local levels are perceived as state policy directions. However, some messages of state representatives do not correspond to the social and political situation and do not support public reconciliation in the frontline zone.
Ukraine is a large country located in Eastern Europe. It has a population of over 45 million people and was formerly part of the Soviet Union. Ukraine has a long history and was once an important center of trade and culture. It has a predominantly Christian population and its official language is Ukrainian, though Russian is also widely spoken. The country has a democratic government and a developing market economy focused on agriculture.
Call for Papers, Unsettling Colonial Modernity: Islamicate Contexts in Focus,...Encyclopaedia Iranica
This document announces an academic conference titled "Unsettling Colonial Modernity: Islamicate Contexts in Focus" to be held at the University of Alberta on April 24-25, 2015. The conference will examine the impact of 19th century European colonialism on Islamic societies and identity formations. It will consider challenges to the homogenizing concept of European modernity, as well as alternative discourses such as indigenous and multiple modernities. The organizing committee invites paper and poster submissions on topics related to colonialism, identity, and Islamophobia. Keynote speakers will be Dr. Sherene Razack and Dr. Parin Dossa, scholars of feminism, race, and the experiences of Muslim women.
Analytical report of the examined stereotypes about IDPs in UkraineLiterature group STAN
Analytical report of the examined stereotypes about the internally displaced persons in Ukraine report was created after six months of fieldwork in 10 Ukrainian cities all over country. Research on the emerging stereotypes towards the Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine was conducted within the framework of the project «Promoting dialogue and reconciliation in the regions of Ukraine». Project was coordinated by Literature group "STAN" (Luhansk/Ivano-Frankivsk) in cooperation with initiative "Cultural Dialogue" (Kremenchuk) and supported by National Endowment for Democracy, Embassy of the United States in Ukraine - the Democracy Grants Program.
(Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the participants of the project and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. government)
Intercultural Dialogue: Efficient Construct of the Integrative Development of...yevtukh
This document discusses intercultural dialogue as an efficient construct for the integrative development of polyethnic societies. It begins by defining intercultural dialogue as the open and respectful exchange of views between groups with different ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds. The author then argues that intercultural dialogue can help neutralize tensions between ethnic groups and prevent the growth of intolerance in diverse societies. When implemented properly based on principles of equality and mutual respect, intercultural dialogue can facilitate political and social unity while also preserving cultural diversity. The document examines how international organizations promote intercultural dialogue and provides examples of relevant conferences and declarations.
Initially published on 17th July 2010 in American Chronicle, AfroArticles, and Buzzle
Mentioned in the Russian Newsroom on 18th July 2010:
http://news.russiannewsroom.com/details.aspx?item=30781
Republished on 30th July 2010 here:
http://originaloromantic.blogspot.com/2010/07/russia-oromos-egypt-sudan-abyssinia.html
This document discusses new ethnicities and problems faced by immigrants in Ukrainian social space. It provides background on the growing immigrant population in Ukraine, which makes up around 9% of the total population. The document examines perceptions of "visible minorities" such as Arabs, Afghans, Chinese, Blacks, and Turks in Ukrainian society. It finds that Ukrainians generally have a low level of tolerance towards these groups, as measured by social distance indexes. The document also outlines socioeconomic challenges faced by immigrants, including lack of access to the labor market, underemployment, housing issues, and difficulties with cultural adaptation.
Identity, Communication, InclusionThe Roma and (New) Europe.docxwilcockiris
This document discusses issues of identity and identity formation for Roma (Gypsy) people in Europe. It examines how Roma are building a transnational identity while still maintaining national identities, similar to the project of a unified European identity. However, the Roma experience of dual identity is neglected in debates due to their marginalized social status. The document explores how communication theories like imagined communities, public sphere, and muted groups can provide lenses for understanding how Roma identity and marginalization have developed historically and currently.
- The document discusses a study by Russian Jewish historian Isidor Saavich Katsnelson on the works of Russian military officer, explorer, and monk Alexander Bulatovich about his expeditions in Abyssinia from 1896-1899.
- Katsnelson's analysis demonstrated how Russia's ill-conceived East African policy of supporting Abyssinia only helped British interests and damaged Russian goals. A Russian-Ottoman-Italian alliance could have better served Russian interests in the region.
- Bulatovich's accounts rejected the notion of a "Christian Ethiopia" and exposed the false history, incestuous practices, and tyrannical nature of the Abyssinian state, contradicting Anglo
New ethnicities – New problems. Immigrants in Ukrainian Social Spaceyevtukh
This document discusses immigrants in Ukrainian social space and the challenges they present. It begins by establishing the timeliness of studying this issue given trends of increasing globalization and ethnic diversity. It then seeks to define key terms like "Ukrainian social space" and "new ethnicities" to provide context. The document describes Ukrainian social space as having taken on characteristics of a "container society" due to Ukraine's recent independence, but also notes factors weakening this, like transnational migration trends. It analyzes Ukraine's ethnic composition based on census data, noting the Ukrainian ethnicity is largest but that criteria for classifying minorities is unclear. The purpose is to understand challenges immigrants pose for Ukrainian society and seek integrative models for development.
This document provides a curriculum vitae for Dr. Anatol Lashkevich, a distinguished Russian professor of literature and cultural studies. The 3-sentence summary is:
Dr. Lashkevich has had an extensive career in academia, holding positions at Udmurt State University in Russia as well as visiting positions in the US and Europe. His research focuses on comparative literature, cultural studies, and interdisciplinary approaches. He has authored numerous books and articles on topics related to hermeneutics, literary theory, and Russian-American cultural exchange.
This document lists 46 monographs, manuals, and handbooks as well as 49 articles published by Professor Volodymyr Yevtukh on topics related to ethnicity, migration, diaspora, and ethnosociology. The works cover a range of subjects including national minorities in capitalist countries, Ukrainian ethnic groups in North America, historiography of national relations in foreign countries, and concepts of ethnosocial development. Many of the publications are in Ukrainian or Russian and focus on ethnopolitical issues in Ukraine and analysis of ethnic dynamics within Ukrainian society.
Володимир Євтух у інформаційно-комунікаційному просторі: наукові та політик...yevtukh
У книзі представлено дослідження наукового та політико-громадського
простору активності професора Володимира Борисовича Євтуха. Структура
видання включає цитування праць вченого вітчизняними та зарубіжними
дослідниками, його участь у наукових заходах, перелік власних праць у
бібліотеках світу та згадки про науковця, державницьку діяльність та зв’язок
з міжнародними та вітчизняними суспільними структурами. Останній розділ
містить списки вибраних праць В. Б. Євтуха з посиланнями на інтернет-
видання.
The book represents the research of scientific, political and public activity
space of professor Volodymyr Yevtukh. The structure of edition includes citations
of the scholar’s works by domestic and foreign researchers, his participation in
scientific events, the list of his own works in the libraries of the world and
mentions about the scientist, statesman activities and relation with international
and domestic social structures. The last chapter contains the list of V. Yevtukh
selected works with the links to the online editions.
The dynamics of interethnic relations in crimeayevtukh
This document analyzes the dynamics of interethnic relations in Crimea. It discusses the ethnic diversity of Crimea, which has over 100 ethnic groups and the six most populous being Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Crimean Tatars, Jews, and Tatars. It provides data on the population sizes of various ethnic groups from censuses between 1970-1989, showing increases and decreases. Key factors that determine contemporary interethnic relations in Crimea are the historical formation of the population's ethnic composition, dynamics of ethnic settlement patterns, current migration trends, ethnic group constitutionalization, and interactions between the largest ethnic groups.
Prospects of ukraines cooperation with european and transatlantic structures ...yevtukh
1) The document discusses Ukraine's prospects for cooperation with European and transatlantic structures in the context of Ukrainian identities. It argues that identities of a population strongly influence attitudes toward integration with these structures.
2) It defines key terms like "cooperation", "identity", and outlines different types of identities including spatial, political, social and cultural. National and civic identities are most important for analyzing public opinion on joining international organizations.
3) Multiple factors shape identities in Ukraine, like ethnic composition, migration, political influences. Understanding identities is crucial for assessing public support for closer ties with groups like the EU and NATO.
Human Values in Intercultural Space Conference Program Jagiellonian universit...yevtukh
This document outlines the schedule for a two-day conference on "Human Values in Intercultural Space" held in Krakow-Przegorzały, Poland on June 1-2, 2012. The conference was organized by the Institute of the Middle and Far East at the Jagiellonian University and included sessions on the first day addressing core values, common grounds for intercultural communication, conversation between civilizations, and cultural identity. The second day featured sessions on literature in a global context, poetry as conscience between Poland and India, religious icons and their reflection of human values, European values in intercultural space, and mystical systems in ancient poetry.
Human Values in Intercultural Space Conference Program Jagiellonian universit...
Roma in ukraine
1. ROMA IN UKRAINE: ETHNODEMOGRAPHICAL AND
SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXTS
General remarks
Before starting to discuss the situation of Roma in Ukrainian
ethnodemographical and sociocultural contexts I would like to propose to clarify, in
my opinion, two very important positions which strongly influence the approaches
concerning analysis of the situation, perception and treatment of Roma in Ukraine.
First, Ukraine is a country with a poly-ethnic composition of its population: the
representatives of about 130 ethnoses inhabit Ukraine. They have their different
histories on the territory of Ukraine, they are different in numbers, their role and
status differ. My experience in researching ethnic issues both in Ukraine and abroad
(over 200 publications), knowledge of theoretical concepts of American, Canadian
and European colleagues gives me the opportunity to interpret the ethno-national
structure of Ukrainian society as consisting of four components:
“Ethno-Nation”: ethnic Ukrainians
“National (Ethnic) Minorities”: Armenians, Azerbaijanians, Bulgarians,
Czechs, Estonians, Georgians, Germans, Greeks, Hungarians, Jews, Lithuanians,
Moldavians, Poles, Roma (Gipsies), Romanians, Russians, Slovaks, Tatars
“Ethnic Groups with not Identified Status”: Crimean Tatars, Gagausians,
Karaims, Krymchaks
“Representatives of individual Ethnoses”: in numbers from 5,500
(Kazakhs) to 6 (Aleuts) (State Statistics Committee 2001).
The criteria of such a typology are analysed in my previous works (Yevtukh,
2004, 2009).
Second remark concerns the terms “Gipsy” and “Roma”. The first one is
widespread in Ukrainian public opinion and in mind of the population; the latter is a
very new one and is not understandable for the majority of citizens in Ukraine. That
is why in Ukrainian practices (everyday life, research) these two terms are used; now
more often “Gipsy”, however, without a negative context. And one more, to my
mind, remarkable moment: Searching the answer to the question “What do Roma,
2. themselves, think about these two ethnonyms?” we found the answers in the
sociological survey conducted by the Ukrainian Institute of Social Research and the
International Renaissance Foundation in 2003: 29% prefer “Roma”; 21% – “Gipsy”;
for 48% it does not matter, the main thing is good treatment (Osoblyvosti, 2003:
158). By the way, in order not to lose outside interest to their artistic activities
associated by broader Ukrainian audience with the words “Gipsy – Gipsian”, many
dance-music-drama groups are using them in their names, for example “Gipsy
Musical and Drama Theatre “Romance”.
Short historical backgrounds
The history of Roma in Ukraine begins in the XVIth century: a) The first
written mention dates back to 1501 – in the Safe Conduct of the Grand Duke of
Lithuania Alexander presented to Gipsy leader Vasyl’. b) In numbers, they appeared
on the left bank of the Dnipro-River, Bessarabia (the South of the country) and on the
territory of the Crimea (before 1956 a part of Russia) and for a long time they were a
visible component of social developments in these parts of Ukraine. Roma (in the
terminology of the XVIIIth century – Gipsy) were to be seen among Zaporizhya
Cossacks, sometimes even as Otomans (leaders of Cossack divisions). Traditionally,
Gipsies were busy with handcrafts (blacksmiths, joiners, horse breeding, and travel
trade); they earned their living by making music, singing, dancing and fortune-telling.
As to religion, the Ukrainian Gipsies were divided between Orthodoxes (Dnipro
regions) and Greek-Catholics (Galicia and Transcarpathia).
Dynamics of Roma Population in Ukraine (Soviet time)
To collect data on Roma not only in Ukraine, but all around the world is a
difficult job. It is due to the nomadic mode of life and as to Ukraine, Russia and later
the Soviet Union, more than anywhere else, due to the ideology which ignored the
problematic issues in ethno-national developments. To estimate the dynamics of
Romani population in Ukraine we have to come back to the censuses although one
has to bear in mind that these under the Soviet regime were imperfect and the census
data were interpreted in the manner to please the two main ideological postulates
about: 1) “the friendship of Soviet people” and 2) “non-problematic development of
3. interethnic (in Soviet terminology – international, between nationalities) relations”.
However, we use the data to look at the tendencies in this dynamics.
Thus, the census of 1926 identified 19,300 people of Romani nationality within
the contemporary territory of Ukraine (at that time different; its parts belonged to
different states – Russia, Romania, and Czechoslovakia). Strictly speaking, 13,000
Roma lived on the territory of Ukraine (at that time the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet
Republic). The next census (1959): 22,500; 1970 – 30,100; 1989 – 47,900 (Romy
Ukrainy, 2008: 297).
Two tragic episodes influenced the number of Roma under the Soviet time: 1)
30,000 were killed; the exact number of Ukrainian Roma is impossible to indicate. 2)
Almost all Roma who lived in the Crimea were deported from the peninsula together
with Crimean Tatars being accused of treachery as regards the Soviet Union.
In the post-war period (1959-1989), Romani population increased more than
twice. Specific gravity of them among urban population was 53.4% (1959) and
72.8% (1970) (Naukovi Zapysky, 2008: 112). It is a remarkable trait of Roma
dynamics: increase of urban inhabitants between 1959 -1989 is triple. Gender
statistics for Roma is the following (women): 1959 – 51.7%, 1989 – 50.6%; in urban
areas accordingly 51.8% and 50.8% (Romy Ukrainy, 2008: 142).
Contemporary Situation
Number
The last census and the first one in Independent Ukraine (2001) was conducted
on the basis of a new methodology and it provides the users with more adequate
general data and other useful information, for example, concerning language, social
status, religion. New comprehensive data appeared for Roma, too. Now, 47,600
Roma are indicated in the census. That means a decrease of 330 persons. Roma
amount to 0.10% of the population of Ukraine (during 1989 census – 0,09%) (Sklyar,
2009: 422). An increase is caused by reduction of the total number of Ukraine’s
population from 51,452,034 to 48,240,902 (Tabachnyk, 2007: 12).
These are official data based on the census; however, the researchers suppose
that not all Roma can be calculated because of their specific mode of life. The
estimations surpass the census numbers four times (200 thousand). Such statements
4. refer to the results of different ethnographic field research and calculation of children
in the families.
Territorial Distribution
Speaking about distribution of Roma on the territory of Ukraine, three
characteristic features are to be mentioned: 1) generally, they live dispersed – they
are presented (in different quantity) in all regions of the country, 2) they have their
traditional areas of settlement: Western (Transcarpathia) – more than 14,000; Eastern
(Donezk, Lugansk, Sumy) – over 7,760; Southern (Odessa, Mykolayiv, Kherson) –
over 7,200; Central (Dnipropetrovs’k, Zaporizhya, Cherkassy) – about 7,000
(Osoblyvosti, 2003: 20), 3) the majority of Ukrainian Roma is concentrated in cities –
33,400 are urban and 14,200 are rural (Naukovi Zapysky, 2008: 112).
Economic Situation and Employment
We would like to mention markers which allow estimating the level of social
being of Roma in Ukraine: 1) situation concerning their employment; 2) level of
education; 3) migration; 4) self-estimation of the well-being.
The sociological survey we mentioned above provides us with following
information: 1) Employment: 18-24 years – 17% (Ukrainian average is 30%), 25-28
years – 27 (73), 29-39 years – 43 (78), 40-49 years – 27 (78), 50-70 years – 11 (45).
Attention should be drawn to the fact that the unemployment among women is twice
higher than among men: accordingly, 35% and 16%. We cite the mentioned survey to
show a correlation between gender and age concerning employment of Roma: 18-24
years – 28% for men, 9% for women; 25-28 – 43% / 17%; 29-39 – 50% / 36%; 40-49
– 38% / 16%; over 50 years – 18% / 3%. The occupational structure of Roma who
constantly have their work: 28% are employed in agriculture, 25% in services, 13%
in trade, and 11% in constructing industries. (Osoblyvosti, 2003: 74, 75). A great part
of physically able Romani population works in black labour market. Roma are
practically excluded from such occupational spheres as medicine and education.
2) The education in general is one of the most actual problems for Ukrainian
Roma – only 2% of them graduated from universities (bachelor, master), another 6%
finished secondary level schools, 49% attended primary schools and more than one
third did not visit the school at all. This fact determines to a great degree not satisfied
5. situation with employment of Roma, especially in cities, where more qualified labour
is needed. Coming back to correlation between education and occupation, we can see
that more than a half of constantly employed Roma is busy with works which do not
need high level of qualification; instead only 11% occupy places where high qualified
labour is required (Osoblyvosti, 2003: 75). As to villages, the level of employment is
higher because there is a lot of unqualified work (both seasonal and temporal).
3) Migration with the aim to earn is one of the indexes which characterize the
social situation among Roma: from 10% to 50% of them migrate outside regions
where they constantly live. In the structure of Romani migrants males dominate –
42%; the majority of migrants are young people: 47% at the age of 18-28 years and
24% at the age of 29-39 years. A very considerable part of Ukrainian Roma (41%)
would like to take an opportunity to emigrate out of the country (Osoblyvosti, 2003:
82, 83).
4) The well-being of Ukrainian Roma can be evaluated using their answers to
the question about their material status: 59% lack money for the most necessary
things, only 3% live under good conditions – it means that they have everything they
need in everyday life, but cannot afford to buy, for example, a car or an apartment
(Osoblyvosti, 2003: 30).
Linquistic and Cultural Charactaristics
We can state that Roma of Ukraine preserve to a great degree their native
language and their ethnic cultural traditions. Three languages are mainly used now
among Roma: Native (21,266; 44.69%), Ukrainian (10,039; 21.1%) and Russian
(6,378; 13.40%); other languages – 9,880 (21%). In comparison with the census of
1989, Roma are losing their positions in Native language (-13.90%), adding in
Ukrainian (+8.76%) and in Russian (+3.12%) (Sklyar, 2009: 419). The reasons of
such changes can be explained by the following factors: 1) During the Independence
time Ukrainian turned into the state language and it opens the ways to education and
jobs. 2) Russian is a widespread language in Ukraine and it is often the language of
an everyday communication. 3) There is no state school with Roma Native language;
only several Sunday-schools are active in Transcarpathia region – the area with the
highest concentration of Roma population.
6. The results of sociological survey well reflect the real picture of circulation of
languages in Roma environment: 50% communicate in families in Roma language;
16% do it both in Roma language and the second one (Ukrainian, Russian,
Hungarian, Moldavian); 22% communicate only in Ukrainian, 3% - Russian, 2% in
Hungarian, 1% in Moldavian. It is to be mentioned that outside of Romani
environment the frequency of the use of Roma language is different of that in family:
only 32% are using Roma, 14% communicate solely in Roma, 18% (dependently on a
situation) are using together with Roma other languages, too (Ukrainian, Russian,
Hungarian, Moldavian) (Osoblyvosti, 2003: 88,90).
In Ukraine, Roma are one of the minorities which preserve and cultivate their
ethnic traditions and native culture as an element of their mode of life. There are a
number of artistic groups, theatres, annual festival of Gipsy music and dance
“Amala” in which other nationalities also take part, festival of children’s art activities
“Ame Roma” (Kharkiv), Roma “Pap-Jazz-Fest” (Uzhgorod). Media, especially in
Gipsy language (there are 4 newspapers), inform the population about cultural events
in Roma environment. Museums are good ground for preservation and cultivation of
cultural traditions and ethnic heritage of Roma: there are several collections devoted
to history and culture of this minority in museums of the Crimea, Transcarpathia and
other regions.
Organizational Activities
One of the characteristic features of the ethno-national development of
independent Ukraine are the civic activities of minorities. Ethnic and national
minorities have established their organizations on ethnic basis. Today, there are over
1,300 of them at national, regional and local level. Roma are not an exception here:
88 Roma units are registered in Ukraine (data of the State Committee on Nationalities
and Religion), three of them with all-Ukrainian status: “Congress of Roma of
Ukraine”, “Centre for Unity and Protection of Roma Rights”, “All-Ukrainian Legal
Roma Association “Chapiche””. There are two organizations which are working at
international level – international civic organization of Roma “KETANE”,
international charity organization “Roma Women Foundation “Chirikli””. The
7. majority of Roma organizations are active in Transcarpathia, in the places of their
compact settlements.
The activities of Roma organizations focus mainly on revival and development
of native language, culture, traditions and habits. There is a number of organizations
conducting also legal activities targeted at the protection of rights of Roma.
Roma in Interethnic Communication
Speaking about the situation concerning the position of Roma in interethnic
relations in Ukrainian society, we have to keep in mind two very important things: 1)
self-estimation as an ethnic minority and as an actor of these relations; 2) attitudes of
surrounding people towards Roma and their stereotypes. We can get the information
for our conclusions from censuses, surveys, monitoring, media and fiction. One has
to take into consideration the spaces where interethnic communication with the
participation of Roma occurs. These for direct communication are strictly limited by
the areas of their compact settlement, mainly in regions mentioned above. The
indirect communication does not have so many opportunities to be realized – Roma
are not often, especially today, a subject of fiction or films. From time to time, they
appear in media in two facets: as criminals and as a very gay people (“carnival
minority”).
Attitudes of Ukrainian Population towards Roma
To draw a conclusion concerning measuring the level of tolerance-intolerance
in interethnic communication, Ukrainian sociology uses the Bogardus Social
Distance Scale, including seven questions. The scale asks people about the extent to
which they would be accepting of each group (a score of 1.00 for a group is taken to
indicate no social distance; cumulative Guttman scale):
1) as close relatives by marriage (score 1.00)
2) as my close personal friends (2.00)
3) as neighbours on the same street (3.00)
4) as co-workers in the same occupation (4.00)
5) as citizens in my country (5.00)
6) only visitors in my country (6.00)
7) would exclude from my country (7.00)
8. Table 1 shows the data of the monitoring “Ukrainian Society”, which has been
conducted at the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of
Ukraine (1992-2008):
Table 1: Social Distance of Ukrainian population towards Roma
Ques 1992 1994 1996 1998 1999 2000 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008
tions
(see
abov
e)
1 2.4 5.0 5.8 4.6 3.4 2.8 0.6 0.6 1.4 1.0 0.5
2 4.3 5.1 5.3 4.3 3.8 3.3 2.0 1.2 1.2 0.7 1.3
3 6.3 6.6 4.6 4.9 4.7 4.8 2.0 3.1 2.7 1.8 3.0
4 3.2 2.9 1.7 1.1 1.7 1.3 1.6 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.7
5 21.2 24.6 29.4 28.2 29.3 28.6 19.2 21.2 22.9 20.0 21.1
6 24.9 20.0 20.2 19.6 23.8 22.5 28.6 25.7 28.5 30.3 29.9
7 33.0 19.5 28.2 32.3 30.2 34.1 42.9 46.0 42.1 45.3 42.6
In the period 1992-2008, the average index of social (sometimes we call it
national) distance concerning Ukrainian Roma was from 5.1 to 6.0; for Ukrainians,
for example, 1.4 – 2.4; for Russians 1.9 – 3.3; for Byelorussians 2.4 – 4.2; for Poles
3.8 – 5.0; for Germans 4.3 – 5.3; for Turks 4.9 – 5.9; for Arabs 5.1 – 6.0; for Negros
5.9 – 6.0; for Afghans 6.1 – 6.2 (Ukrayins’ke suspil’stvo, 2008: 542, 544). It means
that Roma are at the bottom of the hierarchy (tolerance-intolerance) of interethnic
relations.
Now, we can compare these data with the survey data: 20% have estimated the
attitudes to Roma as benevolent; 63% as “normal” - not worse as towards
representatives of other nationalities; 15% mean that Roma are treated worse than
other minorities. On this basis we can conclude that the monitoring data and survey
data correlate, however, we have to mention two more things: 34% of respondents
9. reported that they know about numerous cases when Roma were victims of violence
because of their nationality. Among the reasons why Roma children do not attend
school is bad treatment by teachers (7%) (Osoblyvosti, 2003: 114, 106).
The analysis of “Roman information” in Ukrainian media leads to the
following statement: they built up a rather negative than positive image, giving such
information: exclusively negative – 3%; rather negative than positive – 23%; in the
same proportions – 51%; rather positive than negative – 6%; exclusively positive –
1% (Osoblyvosti, 2003: 117). From time to time, the media reports about cases of
discrimination of Roma in social and political spheres and the media also present
hostile (towards Roma) information and “the language of hostility” is being formed
(Ekologia movy, 2008).
Prospects for Roma
It is beyond doubt that the situation of Ukrainian Roma must be improved first
of all in social and political spheres as well as in respect to their representation in
authority bodies. Prospects for development of Roma depend to a great degree on the
attitudes, positions of Ukrainian officials and authorities towards this minority which
can be declared first of all in the State Policy and can be realized in politics at
national, regional and local level. We can state that in the period of existence of
Independent Ukraine several measures were undertaken with the aim to support this
disadvantageous ethnic community and to open new opportunities for taking more
active part in social, cultural, civic-political developments of Ukrainian society.
Following initiatives have been undertaken: 1) The Government adopted a
“National Actions Plan of Ukraine” in the Frame of the “Decade of Roma Integration
2005-2015”. 2) The State Committee of Ukraine on Nationalities and Migration (now
and Religion) – the central body in executive power of Ukraine responsible for ethnic
and migration issues – has developed a special branch “Programme of Social
Spiritual Revival of Roma of Ukraine (2003-2006)” with the purpose to create
conceptual approaches and ways of integration of Roma into Ukrainian society. 3) In
2004, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) adopted “The Resolution
concerning the International Day of Holocaust of Roma”. 4) In 2005, the Committee
on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations of the Verkhovna
10. Rada of Ukraine organized Special Hearings with the title “Contemporary situation of
Roma in Ukraine”. 5) The opened hearings “Roma of Transcarpathia: Status,
Experience, Solving of problems” (April 2005) took place in Uzhgorod to discuss
Roma issues in the region. 6) In 2007, Roma public hearings on effectiveness of
implementation of the Programme 2003-2006 took place.
We can find several steps for support of Roma in other official documents and
declarations of Ukrainian authorities concerning ethnic minorities in general –
“Complex Measures on Realization of State Politics in the Sphere of International
Relations and Development of Cultures of Ukraine’s National Minorities in the
Period until 2010”; project “Protecting of Roma’s Rights and Providing their Access
to Justice” has been carrying out.
Concrete activities and some positive results of them are more evident on the
regional level, especially in Transcarpathia region where the majority of Roma
population is concentrated and where they live in compact settlements. In this region,
Roma are even represented in electoral bodies - 1 at the level of the city Uzhgorod
(the capital of the region) and 2 in rural districts of the region. It amounts to 0.3% of
all deputies in the region, which, in my opinion, does not correspond to their
percentage in the population (1.1%) (Sagan, 2008: 236).
We have to pay attention to the fact that social assistance to Roma families in
this region is quite high in comparison to average in Ukraine (10.1%); however, in
any case, it is not enough to cover their needs.
References
Skhidno-Yevropejskyj Instytut Rozvytku (Mridula Gosh. ed.) (2008)
“Ekologia movy” v konteksti problem rosmayittya kultur i ZMI, Kyiv: TOV “Ayiva
Plyus LTD”. (the East-European Institute of Development (Mridula Gosh. ed.) (2008)
„the Ecology of language” in the context of the problems of cultures and mass media
variety, Kyiv: LLC “Ayiva Plyus LTD”).
P. Sokhan’ (ed.) Naukovi Zapysky. Zbirnyk prats’ molodykh vchenykh ta
aspirantiv. Tom 15. Spetsial’nyi vypusk “Romy Ukrayiny: iz mynuloho v
mayibutnye” (do Roms’koyi Dekady Yevropy 2005 – 2015) Kyiv: SPD
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11. and postgraduate students. Volume 15. The special issue „Ukrainian Roma: from the
past to the future” (due to the Roma’s European decade 2005 – 2015) Kyiv: SPD
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O.O Yaremenko, O.G.Levzun (ed.) (2003) Osoblyvosti sposobu zhyttya ta
problem sotsial’noyi integratsiyi romiv v Ukrayini. Analitychnuy zvit za resultatamy
sotsiolohichnoho doslidzhennya, Kyiv: Ukrains’kyi instytut Sozial’nykh Doslidzhen’.
(O.O Yaremenko, O.G.Levzun (ed.) (2003) The peculiarities of walks of life and the
problems of Roma social integration in Ukraine. Analytic report on the results of the
sociological studies, Kyiv: The Ukrainian Institute of Social Researches).
Sagan, O. N.; Pylypenko, T.I. (2008) Yevropeyis’ki prioritety derzhavnoyi
etnonatsional’noyi polityky Ukrayiny. Kyiv: Valin Form. (Sagan, O. N.; Pylypenko,
T.I. (2008) The European priorities of the state ethnonational policy of Ukraine.
Kyiv: Valin Form).
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1989-2001 r., Kharkiv: EXKLUSIV (Sklyar, Volodymyr (2008) The ethnolinguistic
processes in the Ukrainian space: 1989-2001, Kharkiv: EXKLUSIV)
State Statistics Committee of Ukraine. All-Ukrainian population census 2001
[http://www.ukrcensus.gov.ua/eng, 2.12.2009]
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