Ukraine: Party politics, the Left and President Zelensky: An interview with Professor Olexiy Haran

Resumen

The following interview with Professor Olexiy Haran highlights significant aspects of recent political developments in Ukraine. Departing from the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the professor reconstructs the role of leftist forces - whether socialist or communist -, alongside the unstable party system and its cleavages, as well as a series of political upheavals, not to mention the Russian invasion in 2014 and its full-scale war from 2022 on. The discussion portrays both social and institutional features of politics, encompassing social movements and political parties; it goes from fight against corruption to lustration laws; from civil criticism to war decisions. Throughout the interview, the scholar also cites relevant material for further readings and concludes by summarizing some paradoxes inherent to the current situation of the country.