Ukraine after 1991 - JTM282

• Anglický název: Ukraine after 1991
• Zajišťuje: Katedra ruských a východoevropských studií (23-KRVS)
• Fakulta: Fakulta sociálních věd
• Platnost: od 2023
• Semestr: zimní
• E-Kredity: 6
• Způsob provedení zkoušky: zimní s.:
• Rozsah, examinace: zimní s.:1/1, Z [HT]
• Počet míst: 20 / neurčen (20)
• Minimální obsazenost: neomezen
• 4EU+: ne
• Virtuální mobilita / počet míst pro virtuální mobilitu: ne
• Stav předmětu: vyučován
• Jazyk výuky: angličtina
• Způsob výuky: prezenční
• Poznámka: předmět je možno zapsat mimo plán; povolen pro zápis po webu; při zápisu přednost, je-li ve stud. plánu
• Garant: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D.
• Vyučující: Valeriya Korablyova, Ph.D.
• Třída: Courses for incoming students

Anotace

The course covers post-1991 developments in Ukraine with a twofold focus: on the one hand, exposing internal political and social transformations related to the post-Soviet transit, as well as their entanglements; and, on the other hand, highlighting points of divergence from the trajectories taken by neighbouring post-Soviet states, most importantly, Belarus and Russia. Given the recent salient shift in East European studies towards their re-centralization, or disentangling from the Russocentric perspective, outlining meaningful differences in Ukraine’s political makeup enables further elaborations towards the set goal. The course unfolds chronologically covering subsequent stages in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history where certain turning points punctuate this development: elections, mass protests, and military tensions.

Kurz je určen pouze pro studenty magisterských programů.

Kurz se zabývá vývojem na Ukrajině po roce 1991 se zdvojeným zaměřením: na jedné straně odhaluje vnitřní politické a sociální transformace související s postsovětským přechodem a jejich provázanost; na straně druhé zdůrazňuje body odlišnosti od vývoje sousedních postsovětských států, především Běloruska a Ruska. S ohledem na nedávný významný posun ve studiu východní Evropy směrem k jejich re-centralizaci nebo oddělení od rusocentrické perspektivy, umožňuje vymezení smysluplných rozdílů v politické struktuře Ukrajiny další rozpracování stanoveného cíle. Kurz probíhá chronologicky a pokrývá jednotlivé etapy postsovětských dějin Ukrajiny, přičemž určité mezníky tento vývoj vyznačují: volby, masové protesty a vojenská napětí.

The course is open only for students of master's degree programmes.

Poslední úprava: Hrubá Kateřina, Mgr. (28.01.2026)

Cíl předmětu

The course has an interdisciplinary character combining theories and sources from contemporary history and social sciences. It aims to provide a consistent vision of Ukraine’s recent history as a foundation for further - problem-oriented - courses.

Poslední úprava: Korablyova Valeriya, Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Deskriptory

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• describe the main stages and challenges of Ukraine’s post-1991 development;
• explain the specificity of Ukraine’s post-Soviet transition;
• orient in the political landscape of contemporary Ukraine;
• discuss the transformation of the political system in Ukraine and the evolution of political culture embraced by the citizenry;
• assess various policies embraced by the Ukrainian state at different stages after 1991;
• discuss foreign policies devised in the context of a lukewarm relationship with the EU against intense Russia’s involvement in Ukraine’s domestic matters;
• provide meaningful arguments in the debates about the state – people relations in post-1991 Ukraine;
• enhance oral and writing skills in academic English.

Poslední úprava: Korablyova Valeriya, Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Podmínky zakončení předmětu

Assignment	Weight in Final Grade	Evaluated Student Learning Outcomes
Active Class Participation	10%	Engagement in class discussion, demonstrating the knowledge gained from assigned weekly reading and other sources; making own point, asking and answering questions.
Presentation	30%	Ability to comprehend academic texts and to formulate their main ideas; present them in a well-structured and clear way; prepare visual materials to the presentation (power-point presentation and/or handouts); ability to assess the source critically.
Mid-term test	20%	Knowledge of facts, dates, main actors, and overall trends at different stages of Ukraine’s post-1991 development
Final Exam	40%	Ability to understand the main ideas, concepts and case studies covered; define a problem and look for answers; write in a clear, academic style; use cohesive argument.
TOTAL	100%

 

According to the Dean's provision, the teacher evaluates the student's performance in the percentages assigned to grades A to F (https://fsv.cuni.cz/sites/default/files/uploads/files/S_SO_002_001_Organization_of_examination_dates%2C_assessment_of_study%2C_and_the_use_of_A%E2%80%93F_grading_scale_at_FSV_UK.pdf):

91 % and up => A

81-90 % => B

71-80 % => C

61-70 % => D

51-60 % => E

0-50 % => F

A – excellent (outstanding performance with only minor mistakes)

B – very good (above average performance with some mistakes)

C – good (overall good performance with a number of notable mistakes)

D – satisfactory (acceptable performance with significant mistakes)

E – sufficient (performance fulfils only minimum criteria)

F – insufficient/failed (more effort needs to be made).

Poslední úprava: Korablyova Valeriya, Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Literatura

The assigned weekly sources will be available on Moodle.

Main sources:

Wilson, Andrew (2022). The Ukrainians: The Story of How a People Became a Nation, Fifth edition. Yale University Press.

Plokhy, Serhii. (2024). The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History. W. W. Norton & Company.

 

Recommended literature:

Minakov, M.; Kasianov, G.; & Rojansky, M. (eds.) (2021). From „The Ukraine” to Ukraine. A Contemporary History, 1991-2021. Ibidem Verlag.

Palko, Olena; & Ferez Gil, Manuel (eds.) (2023) Ukraine’s Many Faces: Land, People, and Culture Revisited. Transcript.

Magocsi, Robert Paul (1996) A History of Ukraine. University of Toronto Press.

Subtelny, Orest (2009) Ukraine: A History. University of Toronto Press.

Snyder, Timothy (2022) The Making of Modern Ukraine: Lectures at Yale University, https://online.yale.edu/courses/making-modern-ukraine

Poslední úprava: Korablyova Valeriya, Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Metody výuky

The main teaching methods of this course will be micro-lectures and focused discussions. Every class starts with an introductory micro-lecture by the instructor followed by a discussion of the assigned literature. Students’ presentations elaborating on extra sources will be part of the schedule as well. Whereas every enrolled student is obliged to do the required reading for every class (2-3 papers), a presenter should pick a source from further reading and elaborate on it in their presentation. Primary sources and documentaries are included in the scope of materials for the course. The mid-term test will be held in class to check the level of mastering the factual information on post-1991 Ukraine. The final exam will be held in class at the end of the course to check the factual and the interpretive levels of comprehension, formed throughout the course. respectively, the final test will consist of both fact-based and open questions.

Use of generative AI tools:

The use and citation of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or MS Copilot) in seminar papers and other coursework must comply with the decrees of the IMS Director No. 7/2023 and 9/2023.

Generative AI tools may be used unless explicitly prohibited by the instructor. However, they may not be used to generate substantial sections of the text or replace the student’s own intellectual contribution. The student remains fully responsible for any content generated with assistance of AI tools.

Presenting AI-generated content, whether verbatim, rephrased, or only slightly modified, as one's own work constitutes plagiarism.

Every submitted paper must include a transparent statement specifying which generative AI tools were used, in which stage of the work they were employed, and how they were used, or confirming that no generative AI tools were used. If this statement is missing or incomplete, the instructor is not permitted to accept the paper for evaluation.

Unless the instructor explicitly prohibits the use of generative AI tools, the decision to use or not to use them rests fully with the student. The student has the right to request that the instructor does not use AI assistance for evaluating their work.

Poslední úprava: Lochmanová Sára, Mgr. (07.10.2025)

Sylabus

07/10	Please note that the first class is on 7 October 2025. Introduction: who tells Ukraine’s history?
14/10	On the eve of independence. Chornobyl. Political pluralization. Rukh.
21/10	The early 1990s. Miners’ protests. Snap presidential elections.
4/11	The late 1990s. Consolidation of the presidential power and oligarchic system.
11/11	Kuchmagate. Yuschenko’s economic reforms. Mass protests.
18/11	Midterm test. The Orange Revolution and its bitter aftermath.
2/12	Yanukovych’s revanche. The Maidan as a turning point.
9/12	Russian invasion of Ukraine: from the annexation of Crimea to the all-out war.
16/12	Final exam

Poslední úprava: Korablyova Valeriya, Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Vstupní požadavky

No background knowledge is requested, although general orientation in East European history would be a plus.

Decent level of oral and written English skills are mandatory. A fair command in East Slavic languages would be an advantage.

Poslední úprava: Korablyova Valeriya, Ph.D. (12.09.2025)

Požadavky k zápisu

The priority is given to the students applying for a special certificate "Ukraine: Contemporary History, Politics, and Society" within the BECES MA program.

Poslední úprava: Korablyova Valeriya, Ph.D. (12.09.2025)