Yaroslav Hrytsak: the forging of a nation

How do you forge a nation? In conversation with Yaroslav Hrytsak, Ukraine’s foremost historian.

Ukraine literally means ‘borderland.’ Due to its geographical location, the country has endured centuries of domination and colonialism. Putin justifies his war by claiming that Russia and Ukraine are one. In his monumental work Ukraine: The Forging of a Nation, Ukraine’s leading historian Yaroslav Hrytsak presents the centuries-old and unique history of his homeland, thereby challenging the claim of a single Russian-led Slavic nation.

Hrytsak’s book is part of the Ukrainian History Global Initiative, a project aimed at correcting the long-standing suppression of Ukrainian culture and history. At De Balie, Hrytsak will discuss how a nation comes into being.