Interview with Professor Olexiy Haran on the publication of his latest publication, Ukraine in Europe: Questions and Answers, co-authored with Petro Burkovksy. (Kyiv: Stylos Publishers, November 2009).

This publication seeks to provide answers to questions foreigners often ask about Ukraine. In explaining the fundamentals of Ukraine's foreign policy, it also provides an introduction to Ukraine's domestic politics. It argues that Ukraine's culture, political system and geopolitics are much closer to Europe than to Eurasia and, therefore, drive the country back towards Europe.

How did the idea of creating the Kyiv Mohyla University School of Political Analysis come about?

The idea was born of the initiative of students of Political Science and it was supported by Rostyslav Pavlenko, a young faculty member and alumnus of Kyiv Mohyla Academy.  And we must give credit to the Department of Political Science as well.  (Note:  Rostyslav Pavlenko, Ph.D. in Political Science, graduate of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, author of numerous publications and faculty member of Kyiv Mohyla Academy was appointed to the position of Head of the Situation Analysis Service of the Secretariat of President Yushchenko) The first grant for the creation of the School was funded by the Kyiv Mohyla University Charitable Fund.

What were the School’s first results?

The results were attested to in 2004 at the time of the Orange Revolution – an event which caused our team some “severe losses” (expressed with humor and pride).  Together with Rostyslav Pavlenko, most of our experts were tapped by the new government to work at the President’s Secretariat, where they established a Situation Analysis Service.  Another group of our graduates went to work for the National Institute for Strategic Studies.  This is only one of several results of our work.  Another outcome of our work consists in publications and analysis work based on my collaborative work with students – they prepare the research and verifications and we work together on a final analytical product. Many of our publications are of interest outside Ukraine.  As a matter of fact, the cycle of English language studies which I wrote together with Kyiv Mohyla graduate Petro Burkovskyj (currently at the National Institute of Strategic Studies), received the top academic Petro Mohyla Merit Award in the area of Social Studies.

Did you encounter any problems at the School of Political Analysis?

Of course, along with successes there are always problems.  First – and I already mentioned it – is the continuous turnover of staff, but in spite of this consequence of success, the School continuous its program of new projects and initiatives. I should add that we could use a professional manager - an executive director, because frankly, my position as Academic Director does not leave me enough time to be engaged in managerial and operational matters.  One more problem faced by organizations such as ours is the lack of continuous funding.  Our work is completely dependent on funding for specific projects:  if there is funding for a project then we plan for that specific project, and after it is completed we look for funding again.

Can you tell us about your international projects?

An important step in the international arena has been our contribution to Nations in Transit, the annual publication of the respected American organization “Freedom House”. This is an annual assessment of democratization in post-communist countries based on various criteria.  Every country is analyzed and rated on the basis of this analysis, which in turn serves as a matrix for improvements in the process of democratization.  Our School provided the work and statistics on Ukraine from 2001-2003 during the second term of Kuchma’s presidency at a time when the state of democracy was in decline.  But even at that time, the situation in Ukraine was much better than in Russia, and we were careful to report  Ukraine’s ratings with accuracy.

Other positive results of the School of Political Analysis are policy memos for the U.S.-Russian Organization PONARS (Program on New Approaches to Russian Security).  We have been engaged in this project for the last 8 years.  I was the first Ukrainian specialist who took part in this international project, now 2 more scholars from Kyiv and Odesa participate...   

It is also important to note our work with non-governmental organizations in Ukraine, for example with the Center for Political and Legal Reform in its analysis and specific proposals for Ukraine’s constitutional reforms known as the “Green Book of Constitutional Reform”.   In my opinion this is work of high quality and significance:  it is not politicized, we do not impose specific answers to the question “what is the necessary model”, but we propose changes to specific provisions, for example:  pointing out constitutional contradictions in provisions forming a Constitutional Court or a High Board of Justice.

Was there a reaction to your work as a specialist of political analysis from the Ukrainian political elites?

We provide materials and concrete proposals and recommendations to the proper institutions -  Presidential Secretariat, Cabinet of Ministers, Parliament, political parties.  Some of our materials find their place in changes to policies or laws, other don’t.  At the present time constitutional reforms are “waiting” for the results of the next election. 

Is it accurate to say that the most important goal of the School of Political Analysis is the presentation of Ukraine’s political situation to Europe and the world?

This has truly become one of our work’s principal results and it is consequence of the prevailing international high regard for the role and significance of Kyiv Mohyla Academy as an independent, respected and reliable academic institution.  In addition to my work at the university, every month or two I am invited to travel abroad to participate in international conferences and seminars.  These forums  provide an opportunity to inform the world about Ukraine’s political events.  So to a great extent our School’s priorities are focused on this type of international strategic activity.  

Our School of Political Analysis also participated in an international project coordinated by Latvian political analysts and included the participation of the Baltic countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.  The project analyzed Russian “humanitarian policies” related to these countries.  The results and conclusions, coordinated by Kyiv Mohyla graduate Dmytro Kondratenko, were of great interest and value to all countries involved.

What are the goals of the School of Political Analysis in Ukraine?

If we consider our international focus, it turns out that our role consists in presenting a clear unbiased analysis and explanation of Ukraine’s current situation to the world.  But the interesting question is what is really happening and what are the implications?  Frankly speaking, we as individuals who are academics and analysts of the School of Political Analysis are supporters of democracy.  In our role as academics we analyzed and interpreted events that transpired during Kuchma’s regime, but we were critical of the “tightening of the screws” - of the increased authoritarian tendencies.  Understandably, in 2004 our sympathies were with Yushchenko and we participated in television and media presentations and in press publications.

Our commitment to democracy is also reflected in another current situation.  In our recommendations we promote the point of view that Ukraine’s  future lies with the European Union, that the country’s policy should be based on a democratic system, that the rule of law should prevail as highest legal system of governance. I view our work within this framework.  

What about training activities of the School of Political Analysis?

As in 2004, lately the training component has been slowed down because of the interesting paradox which results from our success.  Our graduates are the trained experts and analysts who are tapped by other organizations - government institutions, institutes, international organizations, and as a result we lose them and need to start with new training processes.  This is the fate and challenge.

Would you share the names of some of your key alumni and faculty?

Rostyslav Pavlenko, who is often mentioned by us and the international community, currently serves as Director of the School of Political Analysis.  Vasyl Yablonskyj, a known researcher, author of several books publications, Head of the Department of the National Institute of Strategic Studies, also Petro Burkovskyj, Dmytro Kondratenko, Serhij Kyseljov Jr., who is currently engaged in economic analysis.  I should also mention Andrij Duda – an outstanding professional in the area of municipal administration, who is also teaching at Department of Political Science.  There is a new generation.   Literally recently an article was published in Moscow, where together with our third year student Dmytro Prokopchuk, I tried to explain the events which took place in Ukraine in the last 15 years - both the positives and the negatives. 

What Funds and Foundations do you work with?

We developed partnership relations with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, and with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.   We also maintain relations with the National Endowment for Democracy, which is helping us with the projects on constitutional reforms.  What is interesting is that grants from western organizations do not impose requirements of any particular political orientation, in sharp contrast to the frequent requests for promoting specific political interests in projects funded by local Ukrainian sources.  If we are to talk about domestic foundations, then the largest assistance without a doubt has come from the International Renaissance Foundation (Soros).  It is with the support of the IRF and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation that we recently published the brochure «Ukraine in Europe: Questions and Answers» (www.spa.ukma.kiev.ua).  We are now thinking about the adaptation of this publication for Russian and Ukrainian readers.  And, as always in these situations, we are looking for sponsors….

This interview with Professor Olexiy Haran was conducted by Yevhen Savvatiev, NaUKMA student.

Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America (KMFA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1992 to support and assist the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine to reach excellence in education and innovative research, to help students and faculty achieve personal and intellectual growth and to contribute to Ukraine’s democratic reform through education with a focus on the rule of law, ethical standards and collaboration with other academic and civic institutions.
Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America, P.O. Box 46009, Chicago, IL 60646-0009 USA,
Tel.: (773) 685-1828 Fax: (773) 794-1654, kmfoundation.com, mail@kmfoundation.com
KMF is registered in the USA as a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Your donation is fully tax deductible as permitted by law.