Routledge Studies of Societies in Transition
1 total work
The Ukraine, the second largest Soviet republic with 52 million people, plays a key role in the rapidly changing political situation in the Soviet Union. Often referred to as the "reservation of stagnation" during the early stages of perestroika, the Ukraine has emerged as a forceful advocate of state sovereignty and one of the main catalysts of political and economic reform in the USSR. Asserting their national, cultural and political rights at home, the Ukrainians are determined to play a more visible role in the international arena as well. A crucial turning point was the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, which became a national issue capable of mobilizing vast numbers of people irrespective of their political, social or ethnic ties. The popular movement "Rukh" united democratic reformers of various nationalities in the struggle against conservative forces intent on salvaging the remnants of a decaying system. The central issues in this process of transformation are reflected in this collection of interviews with leading political, cultural and scientific figures who have made significant contributions to these changes.