Stability through Heterogeneity
Regional Diversity as Ukraine’s Strength
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Ukraine shows that regional diversity can strengthen a young state in upheaval. Diversity reins in political excess and can contribute to the correction of an authoritarian turn. Contrary to theoretical assumptions, regional differences that structure political mobilisation and consensus building thus contribute to stability and democratisation. Especially the integration of the Crimea as an autonomous republic in the Ukrainian state is a pattern for successful conflict prevention.
(Osteuropa 2-4/2010, pp. 105–122)