Understanding of Maidans as a Historical Process in Ukraine
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The Problem of Understanding of Maidans as a Historical Process in Ukraine in Context of Post-Communist Systemic Transformations in Eastern Europe The International Conference "Revolutions, maidans and protests in contemporary Ukraine. The current state of research and future directions“ 20 June 2016 at the Natolin campus of the College of Europe in Warsaw
as a Historical Process in Ukraine in Context of Post-Communist
Systemic Transformations in Eastern Europe
The International Conference "Revolutions, maidans and protests in contemporary Ukraine. The current state of research and future directions“
20 June 2016 at the Natolin campus of the College of Europe in Warsaw
Revolution on GraniteRevolution on Granite
October 2-17, 1990 October 2-17, 1990
158 people on hunger strike158 people on hunger strike
@inception@inception
@inception@inception
@inception@inception
@inception@inception
@maidan #1@maidan #1
Ukraine without KuchmaUkraine without KuchmaDecember 15, 2000 - March 9, 2001December 15, 2000 - March 9, 2001
Biggest rally 10.000 peopleBiggest rally 10.000 people
Protest ended with clashes with the police.Term Maidan used for the first time
@maidan #1@maidan #1
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
President Kuchma served full term. Beheaded Gongadze’s body and later his head were found and the trial is still continuing.
@maidan #1@maidan #1
@maidan #1@maidan #1
@basics@basics
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
To break through the government’s information blockade, protest leaders decided to set up a website named Maidan. Site went live December 20 2000. Earliest snapshot in Internet Machine is dated Febuary 21 2001.
Orange RevolutionOrange RevolutionNovember 22, 2004 – January 23, 2005November 22, 2004 – January 23, 2005
Biggest rally 1.000.000 peopleBiggest rally 1.000.000 people
Non violent peaceful protestTerm Maidan introduced to Ukrainian language
@maidan #2@maidan #2
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
On the dawn of a cold November day, the tent camp was set up and an occupation strike started to protest the falsified results of President’s Election. The Orange Revolution introduced the protest meaning of “Maidan” word into Ukrainian language.
Kyiv
@maidan #2@maidan #2
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Maidans lasted for weeks in Kyiv and many other cities of Ukraine
Kharkiv
@maidan #2@maidan #2
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
including in Kharkiv - native city of presentation's author, second biggest city of Ukraine, the biggest in the east.
@maidan #2@maidan #2
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
NGOs played a vital role in maintaining the infrastructure of protests and fundraising.
No Political CorruptionNo Political CorruptionJuly 2006 – March 2007July 2006 – March 2007
Biggest rally 10.000 peopleBiggest rally 10.000 people
Longest lasting protest action. Had no special name.
@maidan #3@maidan #3
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
After the Parliamentary Election Socialist Party left the democratic coalition, forming majority with the reactionary parties thus violating the promises to electors.
@maidan #3@maidan #3
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Tent camp set up with major demand to the President to dismiss the Parliament and to announce new elections.
@maidan #3@maidan #3
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
After 9 months of protests, the President dismissed the Parliament.
Tax MaidanTax MaidanNovember 16 – December 3, 2010November 16 – December 3, 2010
Biggest rally 20.000 peopleBiggest rally 20.000 people
Maidan used for the first time in the protest name
@maidan #4@maidan #4
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Government introduced draft of Tax Code, which could destroy small business in Ukraine.
@maidan #4@maidan #4
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Tent camp was set up with demand to veto the Code.
@maidan #4@maidan #4
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Protests lasted country wide until government complied with demands partially. The central slogan says "Revolution will be".
Language MaidanLanguage MaidanJuly 3 – August 8, 2012July 3 – August 8, 2012
Biggest rally 10.000 peopleBiggest rally 10.000 people
@maidan #5@maidan #5
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Parliament passed the “Language Law” perceived as a threat to Ukrainian language.
@maidan #5@maidan #5
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Citizens demanded to recall the law. Slogan says "No (Ukrainian) language - country is a prison"
@maidan #5@maidan #5
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
An occupation strike started in Kyiv and other towns of Ukraine. Photo from Kharkiv
@maidan #5@maidan #5
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Protest was not successful. It was dismissed with brute police force.
EuroMaidanEuroMaidanNovember 21, 2013 – February 22, 2014November 21, 2013 – February 22, 2014
Biggest rally 2.000.000 people (counted by BBC)Biggest rally 2.000.000 people (counted by BBC)
107 people killed by the police
@maidan #6@maidan #6
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
The Euromaidan or Revolution of Dignity started as protest against the attempt to cancel the process of integration of Ukraine into the European Union. The key of its success is the continuity of protest traditions and the lessons the Ukrainian civic society has learned from every previous success and failure and repression.
@maidan #6@maidan #6
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Euromaidan is a real anti-imperialist revolution which confirmed the civilizational choice of Ukraine as European country.
@maidan #6@maidan #6
Nataliya Zubar, 04/25/2016
Euromaidan was joint action of civic society and politicians. However, this time civic society became the major driver forcing politicians to act, when they tried to avoid actions.
Kharkiv
@maidan #6@maidan #6
Nataliya Zubar, 04/26/2016
Euromaidan protests were country wide
Human Rights Above All
@maidan #6@maidan #6
Nataliya Zubar, 04/26/2016
"Human Rights Above All" because one of major slogans of the revolution.
What triggers Maidans? What triggers Maidans? Violence Violence that is perceived as excessive and non-legitimate.
Major ProblemsMajor Problems•Memento effect, short memory•People record emotions not factsPeople record emotions not facts•History is written by the poor quality media,History is written by the poor quality media,not participants or historiansnot participants or historians•Russia still fabricates alternative historyRussia still fabricates alternative history
Nataliya ZubarNataliya ZubarMaidan Monitoring Information Center, Chair
