MACMILLAN Decentralization, Regional Diversity, and Conflict: The Case of Ukraine (Federalism and Internal Conflicts)

This edited volume focuses on the links between the ongoing crisis in and around Ukraine, regional diversity, and the reform of decentralization. It provides in-depth insights into the historical constitution of regional diversity and the evolution of center-periphery relationships in Ukraine, the legal qualification of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, and the role of the decentralization reform in promoting conflict resolution, as well as modernization, democratization and European integration of Ukraine. Particular emphasis lies on the securitization of both regional diversity issues and territorial self-government arrangements in terms of Russia’s support for self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The volume captures the complexity of contemporary “hybrid” conflicts, involving both internal and external aspects, and the hybridization and securitization of territorial self-governance solutions. It thus provides an important contribution to the debate on territorial self-government and conflict resolution. Review “The text is most informative … . It is recommended to those who what to know what the decentralization reform in Ukraine is about, as well as to those who want to go deeper into problems and risks of decentralization in general.” (Simo Mannila, Eurasian Geography and Economics, June 11, 2021) Review "This book is a brilliant and long-awaited attempt to understand how social diversity becomes a problem if it is not integrated into the political design of a state. The contributors of this book present lessons learned from the Ukraine case for all those who are interested in the contemporary theory and practice of nation- and state-building." (Mykhailo Minakov, Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, USA) "While grand strategies and big theories tend to gloss over complexity, this volume offers a multi-layered analysis of regional post-conflict arrangements in Ukraine. The book’s multi-disciplinary approach is well supported by rich empirical and factual material, which makes for an extremely informative read." (Vsevolod Samokhvalov, Vesalius College Brussels, Belgium) "In this volume the two editors, both young scholars and political analysts from Ukraine, assemble important voices and informative perspectives from Ukraine and beyond dealing with the politico-legal dimensions, challenges and opportunities of the history, present and future of regional diversity in and around Ukraine." (Cindy Wittke, Leader of the 'Frozen and Unfrozen Conflicts' Research Group, Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS), Regensburg, Germany) From the Back Cover This edited volume focuses on the links between the ongoing crisis in and around Ukraine, regional diversity, and the reform of decentralization. It provides in-depth insights into the historical constitution of regional diversity and the evolution of center-periphery relationships in Ukraine, the legal qualification of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, and the role of the decentralization reform in promoting conflict resolution, as well as modernization, democratization and European integration of Ukraine. Particular emphasis lies on the securitization of both regional diversity issues and territorial self-government arrangements in terms of Russia’s support for self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The volume captures the complexity of contemporary “hybrid” conflicts, involving both internal and external aspects, and the hybridization and securitization of territorial self-governance solutions. It thus provides an important contribution to the debate on territorial self-government and conflict resolution. Hanna Shelest is Member of the Board at the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” and Editor-in-chief at UA: Ukraine Analytica. Prior to this, she had served for more than 10 years as Senior Researcher at the National Inst