What Have We Learned about Ethnonational Identities in Ukraine?

Among various features of Ukrainian society that the world has started paying more attention to since the beginning of Russia's full-blown invasion in February 2022, many commentators have pointed to a surprisingly strong and encompassing national identity. However, scholars of Ukrainian language and identity matters had for years demonstrated an increased civic attachment of Ukrainian citizens, including Russian speakers, and its greater salience compared with ethnic, linguistic, and regional identifications. This article seeks to highlight the main accomplishments and challenges of research on Ukrainian ethnic and national identity. It focuses on a gradual shift from the essentialist understanding of ethnicity as embodied in bounded groups to the interest in individuals' contextually determined identifications by categories with a changing meaning. Another prominent part of the analysis is the relationship between Ukrainian ethnic and national identity and the amalgamation of these two apparently distinct phenomena into what I propose to call ethnonational identity.

Automated summary

Since the full-blown invasion by Russia in February 2022, the world has begun to pay more attention to various features of Ukrainian society, with commentators highlighting a surprisingly strong and all-encompassing national identity. However, scholars in the field of Ukrainian language and identity have long demonstrated an increased civic attachment among Ukrainian citizens, including Russian speakers, emphasizing its greater significance compared to ethnic, linguistic, and regional identities. This article aims to discuss the key achievements and challenges in researching Ukrainian ethnic and national identity, focusing on the transition from an essentialist understanding of ethnicity to a contextual understanding of identity categories. It also explores the relationship between Ukrainian ethnic and national identity and the concept of ethnonational identity.