Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity perceived from a Hegelian Perspective
Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity perceived from a Hegelian Perspective

Summary/Abstract: 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-identification 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.

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