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... er 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output in 1992 - 98 fell to less than half the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyper inflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has pushed economic reforms, maintained financial discipline, and tried to remove almost all remaining controls over prices and foreign trade. The onset of the financial crisis in Russia dashed Ukraine's hopes for its first year of economic growth in 1998 due to a sharp fall in export revenue and reduced domestic demand.
Although administrative currency controls will be lifted in early 1999, they are likely to be reimposed when the hryvnia next comes under pressure. The currency is only likely to collapse further if Ukraine abandons tight monetary policies or threatens default. Despite increasing pressure from the IMF to accelerate reform, significant economic restructuring remains unlikely in 1999 (CIA). As the Cia's Economic overview indicates, Ukraine specializes in heavy machine industry.
They actually are a sitting on one of the worlds most abundant land in terms of natural resources. Likewise Ukraine has some of the worlds finest soil for agricultural use. From what intelligence indicates from the cold war time period, when know that in 1970 Ukraine comprised only three percent of the area of the U. S.
S. R. and contained nineteen percent of its population. At the time it was referred to as a power within a power, namely because Ukraine was responsible for a great deal of the total production of the USSR. It produced fully a third of the coal for use in the USSR.
Also Ukraine produced forty-eight percent of Ussr's pig iron, forty percent of its steel, fifty-seven percent of its Iron ore; it also grew approximately, nineteen percent of the grains, fifty-nine percent of the sugar beats and twenty-eight percent of the vegetables (Katz 21 - 49). Why then is the economy in such bad shape? Well the answer can be found at least partially in its history. Like previously indicated, when Ukraine is at its most successful it existed largely with heavy association with foreign powers. Now with neither the economic support provided by Russia, in the form of large industrial machinery necessary to process and mine the mineral resources, or the economic base of consumers provided by the greater USSR that allowed them to fully utilize their large-scale agricultural resources, Ukraine no longer has the means to make use of their natural resources. Hence the area suffers, as it cant continue to provide the economic base necessary to support its population estimated at about fifty point five million in 1997 (Shoemaker 130 - 134).
Due to massive corruption on the part of the government officials and the overwhelming influence of the mafia, a widespread Black Market has emerged. This black market has all but taken over as the only real economy that exists for the Ukrainian people (Jorgenson). Internationally their economy has become more and more dependant on foreign aid. An increased relationship with Russia has boosted their trade to some extent (CIA). Ukraine government trades of materials used in making nuclear type weapons as the main staple export. This is supplemented as well as by the mafia (the mafia is now almost synonymous with the government officials) who trade a large amount of weapon and munitions.
These weapon materials are obtained either through international black market, or from the left over stock of warehouses originally produced in the cold war area (Fager). The nature of black market trade however, means that while some people involved in such illegal activity become wealthy and prosper, those who are not involved in this form of do not reap its benefits. Hence this form of trade does not really boost the nations economy in a very useful fashion. After such business does not actually open factories or create new jobs (Jorgenson).
The larger issue here is the factor of solidarity. The answer to our main question lies in whether or not the Ukrainian people are in fact solid social unit. Do they identify with each other? Do they and will they, pull together as fellow members of a larger community when pressed? The best way to know whether or not Ukraine has pulled together is to consult actual Ukrainians. Operating under this premise, I have obtained a selection of letters written to Dr.
Alan Fager and his family from residents living in the city of Bogodukhov in Ukraine. I also interviewed Dr. Donna Jorgenson to help me know more about the life and culture in present day Ukraine. Dr. Jorgenson was involved with a teacher exchange program with Bogodukhov; she has spent extensive time in the country and has done a great deal of research on the region.
Dr. Fager and his family have also visited the area both before and after the fall of the Soviet Union and have been in written contact since the late nineteen eighties. Here are some excerpts from those letters. The first set of excerpts is from Vera who teaches English at a local school in Bogodukhov. 9 / 23 / 99 Everything in these countries, Russia and Ukraine is very very miserable. Politicians cry We are independent, we are building new life. Its ridiculous.
Nothing new, nothing good, no country, no life. Everywhere the same in Russia and Ukraine. They are Siamese twins, these two countries 1997 Life here is very different from yours. Its better to say like heel and yours like paradise. We have no gas for half a month. Then it is for a month, then again no for three weeks.
Very often electricity goes off for two hours in the evening. Its for the sake of economy. Besides they dont pay us our salary in time. We dont know the date it will be paid. Sometimes it is twenty five days late, sometimes less. The same is with peoples pensions.
You cant even plan your budget. 1995 with spring comes work comes hard work as we are to plant potatoes and other vegetables. And I think with horror about future work but without it we cant survive. All our lives in this country we are struggling for something Humanitarian aid came to Bogodukhov. But new Ukrainian government made such regulations that its a problem to have it.
Lots of papers are needed. The USSR was famous for the bureaucratic procedures. But independent Ukraine outnumbered it. Vera makes here makes reference to the close relationship between Russia and Ukraine also she illustrates a popular distrust in politicians and a lack of faith in the state. The humanitarian aid she makes reference to is an example of how mafia and government apparently have become almost the same organization. As it turned out the elections held put the same people into power as were in power under communism.
The bureaucracy Vera refers to is in fact a system of bribes. The proper tax must be paid in order to accomplish any thing through the government. No specific legislation dictates most of these supposed taxes, in essence a system of bargaining and bribery has become the normal state of day to day government affairs (Jorgenson). Vera does raise a flag of nationalism in her statement, All our lives in this country we are struggling for something, she identifies a common plight specific to the people of her the territory of Ukraine. Also she refers to the greater population of Ukraine as we.
This simple action reinforces the notion that these are a group of people who identify themselves as part of a greater community; she identifies herself as part of a people. This is if you recall our definition of having a national sentiment. The next few selections are from Yuri a bus driver by profession but due to a recent lack of gasoline has taken up doing odd jobs fixing and rigging house hold machinery. Yuri lives in Bogodukhov with his wife, Alla, and their two daughters, Yulya and Inna. 1996 I am writing this letter in Russian, I hope the girls (Inna and Yuri) can translate it I worry it will be hard and long (to get) used to our difficult reality. The independence of Ukraine brought nothing Good. Its worse and worse every day.
All factories are closed, prices are up (and grow) and nothing better in future. Our government is not interest (ed) in peoples life. Instead to make our own goods, they get everything from abroad, they spend all money on that. Our people can work and they are able to do the same things that government take from abroad, but nobody wants to know this. Now the people with black (market) money more important.
Everybody respect (the mafia). Nobody need honest working hands and bright, smart heads. And I am worry about this most of all. The note about writing in Russian is significant because it wasnt until 1989 that Ukrainian became the language of Ukraine. It wasnt until 1992 that the Ukrainian language was used in the schools.
This indicates an attempt to form a stronger Ukrainian Nation (Kuzio 107 - 110) up until that time Russian was the standard language. Yuri indicates a lack of faith in the government and the future of the state. He also makes references to the effects of prevalent black market and the economy on the nation. He does demonstrate a nationalistic sentiment when he refers to his people as smart and able workers. He clearly others the people from the state. This indicates a faith in his nation but not necessarily in his state.
What conclusions then can we take away from all of this? They clearly are not a stable state. Their government is riddled with corruption, a weak economy and no real future except to align themselves yet again with stronger more stable foreign powers. Further more the conditions of the people are not good, and little faith or support is given to the government. My assessment is that Ukraine as a state has had limited success historically speaking and as an independent state their future does not look much brighter.
Be that as it may, I hold that the Ukrainians are indeed a people who do hold on to a national identity. They even make steps to ensure their national identity in the forms of revolutions, such as when they broke away from Russia, and also in reforms, such as their legislation to enact a nation language of Ukrainian. They are a seen as a strong willed people who if nothing else endure. They indeed share a common plight, a history, and a strong national identity. I believe that as a nation Ukraine shall endure.
In conclusion I believe that while Ukraine fails as a state, it does succeed as a nation. Bibliography: Armstrong, John A. Ukrainian Nationalism, Colorado: Ukrainian Academic Press, 1990 Central Intelligence Agency world fact book, CIA Web Page, Accessed March 2000, web CNN News, world report, CNN. com, Accessed February 2000, web Fager, Alan PhD. Personal Interview with Dr. Alan Fager, February 2000 fox chapel school district Gray, Ian.
The History of Russia, New York: American Heritage Publishing Hutchinson, John and Anthony D. Smith eds. Nationalism, New York: Oxford University Press, 1994 Jorgenson, Donna W. Personal Interview with Dr. Donna W. Jorgenson, February 2000 Katz, Zev Ed.
Hand Book of Major Soviet Nationalities, New York: The Free Press, 1975 Kuzio, Taras ed. Contemporary Ukraine, New York: M. E. Sharp inc, 1998 Rusinow, D.
The Theory and Practice of Nationalism course lecture, University of Pittsburgh, 2000 Shoemaker, M Wesley, PH. D. The World Today Series Russia, Eurasian States, and Eastern Europe 1998, West Virginia: Stryker-post publications, 1998 Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Ukrainian resistance, New York: Jersey Printing co, 1949 University of Alberta, a brief history of Ukraine, OSVITA medical project, Accessed March 2000, web Ukraine, history Ukraine information resource online, Accessed March 2000, web Ukraine-History.
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Research essay sample on Lack Of Faith Humanitarian Aid
