What the World Can Learn From Ukraine’s Fight for Democracy | Olesya Khromeychuk | TED

Summary

In this TED talk, Olesya Khromeychuk explores how Ukraine's history and fight for democracy can offer valuable lessons to the world. She highlights three key principles—perseverance, unity, and vision—that have guided Ukraine's journey toward democratic governance despite its challenging history of statelessness and foreign domination. Khromeychuk recounts historical events like the Revolution of Dignity and the cultural and political significance of figures like Taras Shevchenko, all illustrating the indomitable spirit of Ukrainians in their pursuit of freedom and self-determination. The talk underscores the ongoing political and military struggles Ukraine faces and stresses the importance of sustained effort and unity in achieving democratic ideals.

Highlights

• Ukraine's word for vote and voice is the same, signifying the powerful connection between casting a vote and exercising one’s voice. 🗳️🗣️
• Despite a history of oppression, Ukraine's journey to democracy is one of resilience and determined spirit. 💫🇺🇦
• Ukraine shows how diversity strengthens unity, especially during national crises, like the fight against Russian aggression. 💪🌀
• Historical figures and moments, such as the Revolution of Dignity, inspire Ukraine’s continuous fight for democracy. 📅✊
• The story of Ukraine is a potent reminder that democracy requires hard work, perseverance, but above all, it pays off. 🌟👊

Key Takeaways

• Ukrainian democracy emphasizes perseverance, unity, and vision as vital components for building and maintaining democratic institutions. 💪🌍
• Ukraine's struggle for democracy is rooted in its history of statelessness and perseverance against oppressive regimes. ✊📜
• The diversity of Ukraine as a multiethnic nation contributes to its strong unity, especially during times of crisis. 🤝🌈
• Cultural and historical figures, like Taras Shevchenko, play a significant role in motivating and propelling democratic movements in Ukraine. 📚🇺🇦
• Democratic vision and unity have been crucial for Ukraine, especially when facing external threats and internal challenges. 🚀🛡️

Overview

In "What the World Can Learn From Ukraine’s Fight for Democracy," Olesya Khromeychuk, a historian, delivers a compelling talk on Ukraine's tumultuous journey toward democracy. Amidst historical oppressions, she explains that Ukrainians have persevered in amplifying their voices through significant political movements. Taras Shevchenko, a revered cultural figure, exemplifies the spirit of resistance through his poetry that encouraged generations to pursue freedom.

Khromeychuk details how Ukraine's diversity is its strength, with multiple ethnicities uniting to defend their sovereign state, especially in the face of external threats from Russia. The narrative of unity is portrayed through stories of national protests such as the Revolution of Dignity and cultural events that have defined Ukraine's democratic aspirations.

The TED talk concludes with an inspiring message about vision and perseverance. Khromeychuk underscores the relentless efforts required to establish and maintain democracy, stating that historical lessons from Ukraine emphasize the importance of having a democratic vision worth fighting for, being united in that fight, and showing unwavering perseverance.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction: The Power of Voice and Vote The chapter, titled 'Introduction: The Power of Voice and Vote', explores the linguistic and symbolic connection between the concepts of 'voice' and 'vote' in the Ukrainian language, where both words share the term 'holos'. It highlights the idea that by voting, individuals lend their voice to their chosen political representatives, entrusting them with the power to speak on their behalf. The chapter underscores the importance of this empowerment, pointing out that misuse by the representatives can silence individuals, while proper use can amplify their voices, ensuring they are heard.
• 00:30 - 04:00: The Role of Perseverance in Democracy The chapter emphasizes the importance of perseverance in strengthening democracy, particularly from a Ukrainian perspective. It acknowledges Ukraine's historical struggles with empires and recent challenges like corruption. Despite these difficulties, the focus is on giving a voice to the silenced, which is fundamental to democratic values. The speaker, a Ukrainian historian, argues that these very challenges and their historical context make the topic particularly relevant, offering insights into the persistence required to uphold and nurture democratic principles.
• 04:00 - 07:00: Unity in Diversity: A Strength for Ukraine The chapter discusses Ukraine's enduring journey towards democracy, highlighting the resilience and determination of Ukrainians in overcoming historical obstacles.
• 07:00 - 10:30: Vision and the Dream of Independence The chapter titled 'Vision and the Dream of Independence' explores the themes of perseverance, unity, and vision in the context of young states striving for self-rule and recognition in global discussions dominated by older, more established democracies. Despite facing challenges and a lack of serious consideration from traditional powers, these states, exemplified by Ukraine, seek to contribute to conversations about democracy. The narrative emphasizes the importance of perseverance in overcoming the disregard often shown to nations without a long-standing democratic history.
• 10:30 - 15:00: Historical Legacy and the Fight for Democracy This chapter, titled 'Historical Legacy and the Fight for Democracy,' reflects on the dismissal of young women's voices in serious discussions, drawing a parallel to Ukraine's experience with oppressive regimes. It emphasizes Ukraine's history of statelessness and highlights how such experiences have ingrained the value of freedom deeply in Ukrainian society, contrasting it with situations where freedom might be taken for granted. The narrative challenges the notion that only traditional authoritative figures can contribute meaningfully to conversations about freedom and democracy.
• 15:00 - 17:00: Conclusion and Inspirational Legacy of Taras Shevchenko The chapter reflects on the core values of democracy and the inherent skepticism towards political leaders in the context of Ukrainian history. It highlights the impact of statelessness on the national consciousness, particularly the suspicion of rulers and the commitment to democratic principles. The idea of 'people power' is emphasized, with a note on Ukrainians' active participation in democracy, exemplified by their regular protests and demonstrations as a way to uphold democratic values.

What the World Can Learn From Ukraine’s Fight for Democracy | Olesya Khromeychuk | TED Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 In Ukrainian, the word for a vote is the same as that for a voice: holos. So to cast your vote for someone is to literally give them your voice. And it makes sense. By choosing our political representatives, we lend them our voice. If they misuse it, it can render us voiceless. But if they use it well, it can amplify our voice, making sure that it is heard.
• 00:30 - 01:00 Amplifying the voices of the silenced is at the heart of democracy. Now you might wonder why on Earth this Ukrainian thinks that she can talk about democracy. As a historian, surely I should know that my country has been locked in an empire of one sort or another until recently, and has been struggling with corruption and other challenges since it regained independence. And you'll be right to wonder that. But I would like to suggest that those are the reasons
• 01:00 - 01:30 that qualify me to talk about democracy. In spite of numerous obstacles throughout their history, Ukrainians continued to walk the road to democracy. In spite of numerous attempts by our rulers, from the Russian tsars to communist dictators, to silence us, we found ways of making our voices heard. And I'd like to focus on three lessons that we could learn from Ukrainians that can help us strengthen our voices wherever we are in the world:
• 01:30 - 02:00 perseverance, unity and vision. Let me start with perseverance. States that haven’t enjoyed a long history of self-rule don't tend to be taken seriously in discussions that are dominated by nations with a long democratic tradition. What could a young state possibly contribute to a conversation about democracy? It's only just learning how to be democratic. When I experienced the sort of dismissal of a Ukrainian voice
• 02:00 - 02:30 in some international discussions, it reminded me of a situation when a young woman's experience is dismissed by a group of older men. She can't possibly have anything of value to contribute to a serious conversation, can she? Naturally, I like to challenge that view. Ukraine's history of statelessness demonstrates that living under oppressive regimes, Ukrainians learned the value of freedom. For us, it's not something to be taken for granted.
• 02:30 - 03:00 It’s something to be fought for and, once gained, protected. Another legacy of statelessness is the fact that we don't have a tradition of revering rulers. In fact, we're pretty suspicious of political leaders. Those who have tried to hold on to power and flirted with authoritarianism got a taste of democracy in action. "Democratia," after all, means "people power." Ukrainians take to the streets at least once a decade
• 03:00 - 03:30 to protect their freedom. Many of you might remember the last major protests that took place in Ukraine in 2013-2014. They came to be known as the Revolution of Dignity. Peaceful protesters came out to the squares all over Ukraine to demonstrate against corruption and abuse of power by the president of the time. One of the iconic figures for those protesters was Taras Shevchenko, an 19th-century Ukrainian poet
• 03:30 - 04:00 who is known as the founder of the Ukrainian nation. The poems that he wrote in the subjugated, stateless Ukraine of the 19th century fueled protesters in 21st-century Ukraine as they fought to consolidate democracy. One of the first protesters killed by the riot police was Serhiy Nigoyan. The last footage of Serhiy from the protests is of him reciting Shevchenko's poem, and the most famous line is: “Boritesia - poborete.” “Keep fighting, and you will prevail.”
• 04:00 - 04:30 In other words, persevere. The Revolution of Dignity ended in the victory of the people. The corrupt president fled the country, and the nation was able to choose a new leadership in a free and fair election. The country was en route to consolidating its democratic institutions. But threatened by people power on its doorstep, the Kremlin started a war against Ukraine in 2014.
• 04:30 - 05:00 A flourishing democracy next door is a scary thing for an autocrat. So Ukrainians continue to persevere to protect their freedom, but now we also have to do so on the battlefield. Let me now turn to unity. The protester, Serhiy Nigoyan, was Armenian by ethnicity. His participation in the Ukrainian nationhood was a political choice. A multiethnic, multicultural, multilingual nation,
• 05:00 - 05:30 Ukraine has been deliberately presented by the Kremlin and misunderstood by much of the world as divided. In reality, diversity makes this political nation only more united in times of crisis. For instance, Crimean Tatars know very well what it means to suffer from colonization and repression. They were deported from Crimea, their homeland, in 1944 by Stalin, and have been persecuted by the Russian occupying authorities since 2014.
• 05:30 - 06:00 That is why you will find them fighting in the Ukrainian Armed Forces for the liberation of all parts of Ukraine, alongside Ukrainians of Polish, Jewish, Romanian or any other backgrounds. Protecting the rights of one group supports the protection of all. Ukrainians have an official Day of Unity. It is celebrated on January 22. The date is chosen because on January 22, 1919, Ukrainian lands that had previously been ruled
• 06:00 - 06:30 by the Habsburgs and the Romanovs united into one state through the Treaty of Unity. That state didn't last long, but the experience of unity and sovereignty left a powerful legacy. That is why on January 22, 2022, just a month before the start of the full-scale invasion, when the Russian troops were all around the Ukrainian borders, ready to attack, citizens of Ukraine in different parts of the country
• 06:30 - 07:00 formed a human chain in celebration of the past and in defense of the future. And this brings me to vision. The vision of Ukraine as a democratic, united country, free of imperial oppression has its roots in a time when independence and democracy could only be a dream. But it is people that make dreams come true. I know it. I watched one such dream become a reality.
• 07:00 - 07:30 It was on December 1, 1991. I was seven at the time. It was the first taste of democracy for me, but also for my country. I was born when Ukraine was still part of the USSR. I caught the tail end of the crumbling Soviet empire. They held regular but utterly pointless elections. Elections with only one winning candidate. I witnessed the implementation of a social contract that said, "we'll pretend to give you a vote and you'll pretend to elect us."
• 07:30 - 08:00 On December 1, 1991 everything was different. No more pretending. This was for real. The nation was being asked to determine its future in a referendum. There was only one question to answer: "Do you support the act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine?" The turnout was 84 percent. Almost 30 million people.
• 08:00 - 08:30 Over 90 percent of those who voted said yes. The USSR was dissolved a week later. Now, if that is not people power, I don't know what is. The experience of witnessing this referendum had a profound effect on me. I remember my entire family dressing in our finest traditional embroidered shirts, vyshyvanki, to go to the polling station. It felt like a holiday. And perhaps it was. Gaining freedom is definitely something worth celebrating.
• 08:30 - 09:00 Generations of Ukrainians before 1991 had a vision of the future for their country, but their voices were silenced. My parents' generation managed to get their voices heard and willed that vision into being. It is up to my generation and those who come after to protect that vision of a democratic Ukraine. So the three lessons from Ukraine are simple, and we can turn to them wherever we are facing the fight for democracy.
• 09:00 - 09:30 Have a vision of the future that is worth fighting for. Be united in that fight. And all you’ll need to succeed will be perseverance. And if there's one thing Ukrainians do know about democracy is that it's really hard work, but it pays off. Taras Shevchenko, the 19th-century poet I cited at the start of my talk, was born into serfdom. He had no power, no political voice.
• 09:30 - 10:00 Eventually he was bought out of serfdom, but his freedom continued to be limited. As soon as his fiery poetry criticizing Russian imperial oppression was discovered, he was imprisoned, sent to serve in the imperial army for ten years as a private and banned from writing. So he was robbed of his voice for a second time. And yet his poetic voice was so powerful that the verses he wrote not only survived the repression of his times
• 10:00 - 10:30 but also fueled and sustained the future generations who fought for and achieved independence. In September 2022, when the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were liberating the city of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region, they tore down a billboard poster depicting the Russian flag and a slogan which said, "We are one nation with Russia." It had been put there by the occupying Russian authorities. Underneath that poster was another, predating the occupation.
• 10:30 - 11:00 It was a portrait of Taras Shevchenko and the famous lines from his poem: “Boritesia - poborete.” Keep fighting, and you will prevail. Thank you. (Applause)