Armstrong Gives Lecture on Ukraine

Each year the Ukrainian Research Institute invites prominent scholars in Ukrainian studies to deliver the Vasyl and Maria Petryshyn Memorial Lecture. This year's lecturer was John A. Armstrong, professor emeritus of political science from the University of Wisconsin and the recipient last year of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies' Distinguished Contribution Award for his many scholarly works.

Among his numerous influential books on the study of nationalism are Ukrainian Nationalism, 1939-1945 and Nations Before Nationalism, which, along with his other writings, have shaped the way generations of scholars have approached the study of nationalism in general, and the study of Ukrainian nationalism in particular.

It was for this reason that a large and enthusiastic group assembled last month to hear Armstrong's lecture, "Independent Ukraine in the World Arena: Prospects for the Republic and Implications for Studies."

In his lecture, Armstrong focused on several aspects of contemporary international relations that concern Ukraine. Beginning with a survey of Ukraine's relationship with its neighbors, Armstrong praised the dramatic improvement of relations with Poland, a country transformed over the past 50 years -- with the assistance of the intelligentsia on both sides -- from a threatening neighbor to a useful ally. He went on to discuss Ukraine's relations with its southern neighbors -- including Moldova and Romania.

Armstrong concluded his presentation by reflecting on the

decline of interest in Eastern European studies. Not wanting to end on a sad note, Armstrong encouraged those in the audience to employ broad, comparative approaches to analyzing events in the region without losing an appreciation for those characteristics -- language, religion, culture -- that make it unique.