Preface to the Fourth Edition

In the first decade of the new millennium, Ukraine was characterized by both change and the lack of it. Radical transformations – one might even call them a creeping revolution – became ever more evident.

At the same time, Ukraine remained a country in transition. It was still far from completing the changes required of a modern, democratic, and market-oriented society. Much-needed political, economic, and social reforms were stalled. The country finally acquired its own elite. But it was still immature, self-centred, and devoid of constructive goals. The emergence of a middle class, a sine qua non of a European-type society, was slow and limited. Meanwhile, the decline of the pillars of traditional Ukrainian society, the intelligentsia and village, gathered momentum. As in most post-Soviet states, corruption was rampant. And demographic conditions went from bad to worse. Although many now accepted the existence of a Ukrainian state in principle, a disturbingly large portion of its citizens were frustrated and disillusioned by the way it functioned in practice. However, its numerous weaknesses notwithstanding, Ukraine was gradually becoming ever more similar to other European societies. And this meant that as the new millennium began a crucial turning point in Ukraine’s long and complex history had been reached.

I am grateful to my wife, Maria, for the support she provided in the preparation of this expanded edition. A technical note: among Ukrainians the preferred spelling of their capital’s name is Kyiv. I have adopted this version. However, because this book first appeared in 1988, before the Ukrainian version was adopted, the old version, Kiev, will, unfortunately, have to be used in this publication.

Orest Subtelny

Toronto, July 2009