The Role of Ukraine's Communists in the Ukrainian Independence Movement

Contrary to nearly all predictions, Ukraines Communists supported the Ukrainian declaration of independence in 1991. Closer scrutiny reveals this should have been no surprise because Communist support for independence was the result of Marxist-Leninist ideologys failure to resolve the conflict between nationalism and Communism. Because of this contradiction, Ukrainian communists were promised national self-determination but were forbidden to exercise it. Similarly, Ukraines pre-Communist national consciousness survived and was even nurtured by the Soviet system. These two factors, acting simultaneously, meant the idea of an independent Ukrainian nation was never far from the thoughts of Ukraines Communists. Thus, when the opportunity came to realize self- determination for the third time this century, Ukraines Communists, still retaining national consciousness and marching under the banner of Marxism- Leninism, joined and even led the move toward independence. Ukraine, Communist party of Ukraine, Elites, Independence, Nationalism, Communism, Self- determination.