Yuliya Tychkivska: How Ukrainian leaders can reach an understanding in rethinking national identity

Dialogue is the key to finding understanding on the most important issues for society and the state. For example, regarding the awareness of the common values, ideas, dreams that make up the modern Ukrainian identity. Especially in the context of overcoming divisive national discourses.

In order to allow the leaders of our society to hear each other and develop common positions, a number of conditions must be met. First of all, create an effective dialogue platform.

I am very inspired by the thesis about the restoration of Ukrainian independence. The better we understand that behind our “today” there is a long history – the more confidently we will move into the future.

But along with this thesis, there should be another, no less important one – about the creation of modern Ukrainian identity. This is one of those always open questions, the answer to which each of us is looking for throughout our lives. Unfortunately, it often becomes the object of political manipulation: both inside the country and from outside its borders.

Russia has been trying to impose its narratives on Ukraine for centuries. However, in recent years we have taken a big step outside the “Russian world”.

One of the sociological studies of the Razumkov Center shows that 70% of Ukrainians do not agree with the thesis that “there was and could be no historical basis for the idea of ​​a Ukrainian nation separate from the Russian one.”

Russia itself contributes to the distance from the Russian identity with its policy. Remember the classic plot from mythology: any hero needs a dragon to manifest. Our northern neighbor is an almost canonical dragon – big, strong and insidious.

Now we, as a nation, face another global question: “What can we offer instead of Russian identity?”.

We have to determine what distinguishes us from other nations and makes us Ukrainians.

What unites us, and what, on the contrary, they try to divide us.

We must come out with a shared vision of our present, past and future. The best time to co-create a modern Ukrainian identity is right now.

A platform is needed for dialogue about important issues

Those discussions that we see on TV screens, on the Internet or under the dome of the Verkhovna Rada are not always relevant. And not because we have bad politicians, civil servants or journalists.

The fact is that dialogue is a search for the truth and an effort to understand each other. The desire to exclusively convey one’s opinion, as the only correct one, distorts the essence of the discussion.

This approach to the discussion leads to a change of positions in the results of social polls or the number of followers on Facebook. But it does not lead to finding answers and creating meanings that determine the lives of millions of fellow citizens.

Aspen Institute Kyiv is a platform for sincere and impartial dialogue about modern Ukrainian identity.

At the seminars of the “Rethinking National Identity” project, we create a space for open discussion of difficult questions: who are we? What is Ukraine? where are we going what can we do to counter the narratives that try to divide us?

It is clear that such questions must be periodically reconsidered, because it is impossible to come to the same point of view here and now. But it is very important that Ukrainian leaders can hear each other.

How to create conditions for understanding between leaders, in particular regarding national identity?

1. When choosing seminar participants, it is important for us to get a full cross-section of Ukrainian leaders. We create space for inclusive dialogue. Therefore, we invite representatives of various political forces, civil servants, people representing business, culture, and science. To summarize, all of these are leaders of Ukrainian society who influence the processes in their spheres. The more positions we have, the clearer the overall picture will be.
2. One of the conditions for effective dialogue is to abstract from the background and status: both one’s own and that of other participants in the discussion. Discuss not with a specific person, but with his position. I can’t say to my face “You’re bad, I don’t accept you.” But “I don’t like your position because…” – completely. In this way, during the dialogue, the most important thing is crystallized – thoughts and ideas.
3. Another condition that contributes to the co-creation of new meanings is the application of Chatham House rules. No participant in the dialogue has the right to share any theses without the permission of their authors. This allows you to create a circle of trust, when none of the discussants is afraid that his position will not correspond to the political situation or will be interpreted incorrectly. It is important that no internal prejudices and stereotypes prevent you from expressing your opinion.
4. A factor that is also important for finding mutual understanding between Ukrainian leaders and an effective dialogue is the basis on which it is built. If we talk about the “Rethinking National Identity” seminars, each participant receives a selection of texts by modern Ukrainian thinkers that can serve as a guide for him.

Dialogues about national identity are needed. And what is the result?

One of the participants in the seminars of the project “Rethinking Ukrainian Identity” found a very apt formulation of ineffective discussions – “Potemkin dialogues”. This is what is wanted the least, so we focus on specific goals.

I will single out several consequences to which the development of a leadership dialogue platform regarding issues of Ukrainian identity will lead:

1. I am convinced that we cannot come to the definition and awareness of our own national identity if we do not talk about it. By updating this topic among Ukrainian leaders, we bring it to the top of the agenda. The leadership dialogue in the format of seminars will also trigger a wider public discussion.
2. A number of the texts I mentioned above were created specifically for the project. They enriched this discourse – provided the basis for a deeper understanding of modern Ukrainian identity, divisive narratives and ways to overcome them. I am also very pleased to know that identity dialogues are not limited to workshops. After our events, participants hold such meetings in their communities and encourage young people.
3. The initiator of the project was the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. I hope that the theses developed at the seminars will become the basis for the development and implementation of state policies. This is a great manifestation of one of the principles that I am guided by – “From ideas to actions”.
4. One of the goals of creating a dialogue platform within the project “Rethinking National Identity” is the development of a culture of dialogue in general. In fact, it works according to the principle of gardening: the more seeds you plant, the more they will sprout.

It is very important for all of us to learn not just to hear each other, but to seek mutual understanding and common positions. This is an important prerequisite for building a good life society in Ukraine.

The project “Rethinking Ukrainian Identity” was initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and is implemented with the financial support of the European Union.

This material is the unaltered text of Yuliya Tychkivska’s column for the online publication “Ukrainska Pravda”.