Nationalism and Inequality in Ukraine

I would define Nationalism as citizens that are proud of their country and believe their country is better than all others. Nationalism excludes the interests and worries of other countries and only focuses on themselves to maintain sovereignty over their land. Nationalism is focused on the cultural past of the country including language and heritage. Ukraine split and gained its independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union or current Russia. This being said, Ukrainians separate themselves from Russians and they have a sense of nationalism for their newly independent country. One example of patriotism is President Zelensky of Ukraine fighting in combat to keep his country’s land against Russia’s imperialist raidings. One’s sense of nationalism is so strong they will fight for their country in war. Zakaria see’s danger in the rise of nationalism because in his article What Will it Take to Save American Democracy he mentions how the US is so divided by republicans and democrats each side will do whatever is necessary to prove one wrong and will even attack the institution itself. Zakaria says that if this continues the American government will collapse and democracy will be at risk. In recent times the war involving Russia and Ukraine is becoming known as the 21st century’s 1st religion war. This conflict has grown and grown and has pulled many countries’ attention as Russia attacked Ukraine for no valid reason. As Putin advanced toward Kyiv in Ukraine many researchers saw it coming as Putin made statements that Ukraine and Russia were the same people and should not be separated. Part of Russian president Putin’s reason for attacking Ukraine is because Kyiv is not only the “government center but also a key religious site” (Leaustean). Although Ukrainians and Russians seem similar from the outside Ukrainians believe they are separate whereas Putin believes they should still be part of Russia and not their own state. The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that patriotism is based on the love for the people and beliefs and values while nationalism is focused on the heritage of the country, language, and superiority of the nation. I believe nationalism is one love for the country as a whole, the culture, and the language, and superiority above all other nations. I believe patriotism is one’s love for the people, values, and beliefs inside a nation. Christian nationalism is a bit different in that these people fight for their nation to create a government around this religion. One inequality in Ukraine is between men and women. Although men a

nd women are educated equally and have the same rights, after school women are seen to have lower paying jobs and earn only about 70% of what men earn. This is very similar to the United States as gender inequality in the workplace is still and issue today. Ukraine has also had cases in the past where people are brutally treated in custody of law enforcement and people in Ukraine have protested this. The gini index in Ukraine was 25.6 in 2020 so as for economic distribution there is inequality but nowhere near as bad of an inequality as the United States whose coefficient is 0.494. Ukraine’s PPP is 12407.79 in USD. The economy of Ukraine is ranked 55 however since the invasion of Russia it is predicted that their economy will fall by 35%. Ukraine is a very difficult position with Russia and after the war plays out no one knows where Ukraine will stand after this or how badly their economy will be affected.