Thanks largely to the Kremlin’s information war, Ukraine’s ultranationalists have become global media stars of a sort, depicted in Western and other reports as key players in Ukraine’s third major political upheaval in less than a quarter-century. How do we explain the paradox of ultranationalist parties becoming involved in a protest movement whose thrust is toward greater integration between Ukraine and the European Union? And are the fears that swirl around these parties justified? The most obvious explanation for the Ukrainian far right’s ardent participation in the EuroMaidan may be found in the primary goal shared by all Ukrainian nationalists, radical and moderate alike: to liberate Kyiv from the Kremlin’s hegemony.
About the Authors
Anton Shekhovtsov
Anton Shekhovtsov, based at University College London, is editor-in-chief of the ibidem-Verlag book series Explorations of the Far Right and fellow of the Institute for Human Sciences (Vienna, Austria).
Andreas Umland, based at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, is editor-in-chief of the ibidem-Verlag book series Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society, and a member of the Experts’ Council of the Ukrainian parliament’s Committee on European Integration.
Democracies are grappling with an era of transformation: Identity is increasingly replacing economics as the major axis of world politics. Technological change has deepened social fragmentation, and trust in institutions…