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INTERDEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL IDENTITY IN UKRAINE AND BELARUS
Author(s) -
Nordberg Marc
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
southeastern political review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 0730-2177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.1997.tb00459.x
Subject(s) - commonwealth , interdependence , sovereignty , political science , territorial integrity , political economy , national identity , identity (music) , sovereign state , state (computer science) , economic union , development economics , economy , law , economics , politics , physics , algorithm , acoustics , computer science
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, its constituent republics suddenly found themselves to be independent states. However, Russia continues to exert influence on these states through interdependent economies and revanchist policies. Some states see their sovereignty being threatened by this, and resist. Others see the possibility for gain and encourage increased cooperation with Russia. This paper explores the causes for this difference in behavior. Two of these states that are moving in opposite directions in regard to Russia—Ukraine and Belarus—are examined. It is found that in light of the high level of asymmetrical interdependence found between these states and Russia, national identity can be used to explain why Ukraine and Belarus either associate or dissociate in regard to the Commonwealth of Independent States, the energy trade, and nuclear weapons.