Alina Iovcheva

Fellow in the cluster knowledge transfer and concepts of Europe

My project, “Political Rhetoric and Identity Transformation in Ukraine: Between Soviet Legacy and European Future (1991–2014),” examines how political rhetoric functioned as a formative instrument in the transformation of Ukraine’s national identity during the post-Soviet period. Rather than treating decommunization as a purely legislative or symbolic act, the study interprets it as a discursive process through which Ukrainian political elites and society redefined the meanings of history, sovereignty, and belonging.

Drawing on the conceptual framework of White and Feklyunina (2014), who identified three key interpretative models of Ukraine’s self-positioning in Europe, namely “Ukraine as part of Greater Europe,” “Ukraine as Europe,” and “Ukraine as Alternative Europe,” the research investigates how political leaders employed historical narratives and symbolic language to articulate Ukraine’s place between the Soviet legacy and the European future. These competing narratives reveal that the idea of Europe served simultaneously as a moral compass and a political aspiration, reflecting society’s growing awareness of and desire to align with European democratic values.

Using discourse and content analysis of political speeches, party programs, and electoral campaigns, complemented by sociological data, the study shows that rhetorical constructions were not merely reflections of public opinion but also active mechanisms shaping it. Political rhetoric that emphasized cultural, linguistic, or regional differences simultaneously contributed to identity formation and to the deepening of social and regional polarization, which later became a vulnerability exploited through Russian propaganda and intervention.

The study argues that the evolution of political rhetoric from 1991 to 2014 culminated in the Revolution of Dignity, when public consciousness and political discourse converged around the idea of a European democratic future. This moment signified the maturation of Ukraine’s post-Soviet identity, which is conscious of its national particularity while aspiring to integrate into the European political and value space.

Ultimately, this research provides insight into how transitional democracies use political discourse to navigate between authoritarian legacies and Europeanization, transforming historical trauma into a foundation for civic self-definition.