Greifswald

Fr. 14.09.2007, 09:00 bis So. 16.09.2007, 00:00

Tagung/Konferenz

Is there a third way for Ukraine?

Future cultural and socio-political relations between EU and Ukraine

Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald
Martin-Luther-Straße 14
17489 Greifswald
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Beschreibung:

Since the very beginning of its history, Ukraine has been a crossroads of different cultures, a large territory acting at the same time as the external limit of the Western (Latin and German) sphere of influence, and as a first bearer of Western cultural models in the Eastern Slavic world and its Eurasian extensions. The constant inclination towards Western culture notwithstanding, Ukraine tends alternately to accept and to disparage real integration with Western European tradition (Classical, Renaissance and Enlightenment heritage). At the same time, the refusal of the Russian model stimulates among the Ukrainians the desire to elaborate a "third way" of development, i. e. an independent blend of different cultural components. Often such "searches for identity" end in hazy mystical dreams or mythological trends.

The events since the Orange Revolution, however, show how difficult it is for the Ukrainians to adapt to the EU rules and patterns of development. It is obvious that there is a serious lack of mutual comprehension between Ukraine and the EU, deriving from a lack of reciprocal knowledge. Western European universities and high schools especially may play an important role in two complementary directions: offering Ukrainians the opportunity to become acquainted with European standards and on the other hand offering European scholars, political actors and makers of public opinion better means to find out about the history, mentality and culture of Eastern European peoples, both belonging to the EU or expecting to be integrated into the EU. The Conference will bring together leading specialists to discuss what contribution Western institutions can make to a better mutual understanding between the EU and the Ukraine.

Teilen: