Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity perceived from a Hegelian Perspective

• Author: Carsten Lier and Vadym Tytarenko
• Position: BA Student of International Law, Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Kyiv, Ukraine)/Ph.D. (Philosophy), Associate Professor, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Pages: 43-51

Ukrainian Policymaker, Volume 6, 2020 43

Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity perceived from a

Hegelian Perspective

Carsten Lier1

BA Student of International Law, Institute of International Relations,

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

(Kyiv, Ukraine)

E-mail: carsten.lier98@gmail.com

Vadym Tytarenko2

Ph.D. (Philosophy), Associate Professor,

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

(Kyiv, Ukraine)

E-mail: tytarenko.vadym@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9251-8859

Lier, Carsten and Vadym Tytarenko (2020). Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity perceived

from a Hegelian Perspective. Ukrainian Policymaker, Volume 6, 2020: 43-51. https://doi.

org/10.29202/up/6/5

The political protest against the former decision of Yanukovych to reject the Association Agreement

with the EU quickly evolved into mass mobilization against the corrupt socio-political structures that

dominated Ukraine throughout its post-Soviet history. For that reason, it became evident that Euromaidan

showcased a historical process marking a transition towards the formation of a “prototype” civil society

that has been virtually non-existent in the country´s post-Soviet era. In this article, in order to understand

these underpinning historical dynamics, the event will be analysed through Hegel`s framework of the

state and the historical dialectic. In this context, authors argue that the “Revolution of Dignity” is a

historical turning point towards the formation of a new civil consciousness and self-identication with

the Ukrainian state through laying down foundations for the creation of a liberal democratic state post-

Maidan. As an important step of this analysis, Hegel’s and Marx’s concepts of history were examined.

Firstly, Hegel’s view on the state made it possible to argue that the Ukrainian post-soviet state resulted

in the alienation of citizens from the state. This idea was furthered by using Hegel’s historical dialectic

to allow for an interpretation of Euromaidan as an antithesis to post-Soviet era. Finally, the focus was

shifted towards the limitations of applying Hegel’s theoretical framework to the 21st century events.

Keywords: Ukraine, Revolution of Dignity, Euromaidan, Hegel, Marx, history, state, revolution

Received: March 26, 2020; accepted: April 23, 2020

© Lier, Carsten, 2020

© Tytarenko, Vadym, 2020