Ukrainian Activism & Protest Since 1990

Ukrainians’ response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022 has attracted global attention. Ukraine is also known to many for mass protests in Kyiv 2004 and 2013-14. However, fewer people know that Ukraine has a rich history of activism and protest throughout the country, going back decades. This course is designed to help students cultivate a deeper understanding of Ukraine’s nationwide history of activism, from the late Soviet period to present-day. This knowledge will also help us better contextualize and analyze key episodes of resistance, protest and revolution in Ukraine, including the current war. Moreover, via the lens of activism and protest, this course intends to provide students with a more nuanced understanding of regional variation in Ukraine, empowering them to question simplistic narratives about Ukraine as a divided county. The multidisciplinary nature of this course also aims to encourage students to engage with Ukrainian art and cultural objects that relate to social and political themes.