New Civic Activism in Ukraine: Building Society from Scratch?

Authors

  • Susann Worschech European University Viadrina, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18523/kmlpj119984.2017-3.23-45

Keywords:

civil society, democratization, volunteer movement, Euromaidan, Ukraine, trust networks

Abstract

Since Euromaidan, civil society in Ukraine faces new challenges and a new role in society. Volunteer work, donations and civic activism have increased vis-à-vis the humanitarian crisis and the war in Eastern Ukraine in an unprecedented dimension. Civil society’s takeover of state responsibilities depicts the compensation of state failure. But it is questionable whether the post-Euromaidan civil society contributes to Ukraine’s democratization process. Based on two case studies, in this article I examine new issues civil society in Ukraine deals with, what forms the basis of a new quality of civic activism and participation. Further, I describe structures, activities and interrelations of this new Ukrainian volunteer movement, with the aim to discuss its ambivalent role in fragile democratization.

Author Biography

Susann Worschech, European University Viadrina

Susann Worschech is a post-doctoral research associate at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt/Oder (Germany). Her research interests include political sociology of Central and Eastern Europe, civil society, democratization, and social network analysis. Her dissertation on networks of external democracy promotion and civil society in Ukraine won the 2016 KlausMehnert-Prize, awarded by the German Association for East European Studies.

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How to Cite

Worschech, S. (2017). New Civic Activism in Ukraine: Building Society from Scratch?. Kyiv-Mohyla Law and Politics Journal, (3), 23–45. https://doi.org/10.18523/kmlpj119984.2017-3.23-45

Issue

No. 3 (2017): Special Issue: Civil Society in Post-Euromaidan Ukraine

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2017 Susan Worschech

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