Ukraine case study Flashcards
Where is Ukraine located and what sort of country is it?
It is a large country in eastern Europe, bordering Russia
It is a lower-middle income country
Population of 44.5 million but in decline due to net migration loss and natural decrease
What are the key industries and sources of income for the country?
Key industries: Power generating, fuel, metallurgy, machine building, metal working, gas and chemicals - heavy manufacturing products based on large coal, iron ore and other mineral deposits
Major producer of food, especially grain on extensive fertile plains - in the past black fertile soil generated more than one fourth of soviet agricultural output - by 1999 this had fallen to 40% of the 1991 level (when Ukraine gained independence)
What is the GDP and what has been happening to it?
$91 billion (2015)
It has been falling in recent years
What happened to Ukraine’s economy in 2009? Why?
Contracted nearly 15% - one of worst economic performances in the world
Ukraine has struggled to reform economically since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 - there has been resistance to reform from the government and legislature, which is very divided and has led to some backtracking
What did Ukraine gain when it gained independence from the Soviet Union (secession) in 1991?
It gained the peninsula of Crimea - since has struggled to achieve democracy, civil liberty, economic reform and prosperity as the new government privatised and liberalised
What has replaced Russia as Ukraine’s leading trading partner?
The EU - economic sanctions on Russia and less trade with countries in the EU and USA, for example
Which organisations have encouraged Ukraine to reform more rapidly and how? Has it been working?
Outside international organisations, such as the IMF, which gave Ukraine $17.5 billion in 2014 in the hope that this would speed up economic reforms and encourage economic growth to improve Ukraine’s economic prosperity which it has struggled to achieve in recent years.
Significant progress has been made and reforms are occurring that are making the country more prosperous, democratic and transparent
Where are more improvements still needed in Ukraine?
Fighting corruption, developing capital markets and improving legislative framework
What are the challenges to the government in Ukraine for achieving sovereignty and territorial integrity?
The geographical position - it is located between the EU and Russia, meaning that there are large internal political divisions (between Russian-speaking provinces in the east and Ukrainian-speaking west) and ethnic disparities (77.8% Ukrainian, 17.3% Russian).
This has led to an inability to build a common national identity and develop strong, clear and stable state mechanisms. There as been endemic corruption, attempts to rig elections, unpopular government policies and demonstrations, some of which have been incredibly violent
What happened in 2013?
Serious civil unrest after Yanukovych government’s failure to sign an EU agreement on trade and cooperation in favour of closer ties with Russia
What happened in 2014? Why
Russian annexation of Crimea (autonomous republic of Ukraine) via an illegal referendum, shortly after the election of the pro-west Poroshenko government.
Russia wanted Crimea as it has ice-free ports all year round, which are of incredible value in terms of trade, imports and exports - Russia previously had no such ports
What has happened in Donbass in eastern Ukraine? What are the implications of this?
Ongoing violence and military conflict as pro-Russian separatists have been supported by the Russian federation providing manpower, weaponry and finance. This has led to the loss of a major portion of Ukraine’s heavy industry (in Donbass) and a contraction in Ukraine’s economy, as this was a major source of income for the country but has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict.
Which 2 organisations have aided and assisted Ukraine in this conflict and in economic reform and improving prosperity?
NATO and OSCE
How does Ukraine’s government need to reform its state apparatus?
Development of fair, transparent and reliable electoral and judicial systems, and to deal with criminal activity such as smuggling and corruption)
More effective support from repressive systems, including police and armed force
Improved health, education and welfare systems
Human rights issues (such as IDPs as a result of military conflict) need to be resolved
Needs to generate more of its own energy, reducing energy dependence on Russia
Improve business and investment climate and restore international confidence in trade
What have the impacts on people been?
Approximately 1.47 million of 5.2 million inhabitants of Donetsk and Lugansk regions are IDPs (internally displaced persons)
Evacuees have a lack of income, poor quality of shelter and poor access to healthcare, medicines and food - young, old and disabled particularly vulnerable
There have been 7000 deaths and 13,900 injuries
