Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/623149
January/February 2016 31 to join Russia or pursue more inde- pendence within Ukraine. The refer- endum, which has been called unconstitutional for a number of rea- sons, was held as armed men stood in the streets. Although the votes were overwhelmingly in favor of joining Russia, the annexation has yet to be officially recognized by the world. 2 With the subsequent violence is largely confined to Donbass, most of the country—including Carpath- Ukraine in the far west—is not directly threatened. However, most of Ukraine has been deeply affected by the plummeting national economy and skyrocketing prices for food and energy. Young men throughout the Carpathian region are being con- scripted to serve in the Ukrainian army. Many leave the country (most often to live with their families in Hungary; it is worth noting that this region was once part of greater Hun- gary and many residents self-identify as Hungarian). The Pull of Nationalism Even though pro-Russia groups in Ukraine won only a tiny fraction of the electoral vote their influence is still strong. And in Russia, the regime wants to revive a strong central state. Russian leaders thus fondly look upon the times of empire (both czarist and Soviet), which included neighboring countries with similar religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In their view, national independence of former states in the U.S.S.R. is seen as a threat, in particular when independ- ence comes with strong anti-Russia sentiments. Russia's understanding of "the West" as an enemy stems from trau- matic historical experience. NATO's expansion in the Balkan states and the Western cultural and economic "inva- sion" of Eastern Europe are seen as serious threats not only to Russian security, but also to Russian culture and identity. Policy analysts argue that the Russian interference in Ukraine (and also in Syria) is a means of casting Russia as a "strong" coun- try. Needless to say, the West also has many negative images about Rus- sia (from the Cold War) and many media outlets play up this rhetoric. Neither Russians nor Ukrainians have been empowered to process the huge generational and historic trau- mas they have experienced, including World War II, German aggression, Jewish and Roma Holocausts, Stalin- ism and the engineered famine, Holodomor. 3 It has been considered weakness to allow such an open shar- ing process. But hidden, unprocessed, traumatic history leads to a pervasive and overwhelming fear that is easily manipulated by propaganda. Church Divisions History is also shaping the response of churches in both Ukraine and Rus- sia to the conflict. During Soviet times each denomination (Orthodox and Protestant) was united through- out the U.S.S.R. as all believers suf- fered persecution under Soviet rule, many dying for their faith. After studying the rebirth of Christian churches in this area after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the- ologian John Burgess concluded, "The current struggle over Crimea and Ukraine cannot be reduced to stan- dard oppositions of West versus East, Europe versus Russia. Something deeper is at stake, something about the central moral values that will define this part of the world in the twenty-first century." 4 The Oligarch Systems With the collapse of the Soviet Union, state-owned assets became privatized businesses. Both in Russia and Ukraine, privatization did not immediately lead to a vibrant market economy and democratization. Instead, due to lack of any checks and balances in the transition period of the early 1990s, former communist leaders gained access to state assets at extremely favorable prices. They became "oligarchs," competing for wealth, influence and power, and were P resbyterian Women's 2008 Global Exchange visited a number of countries in Eastern Europe, i ncluding Carpath-Ukraine, in the most western part of Ukraine. Since this exchange, PW has steadfastly supported ministries and partners in the region. For example, the Roma women's basket- weaving initiative was promoted after this exchange. And with support from Living Waters for the World, water projects have been developed for several underserved areas. A recent Thank Offering supports the Roma Mission Center in Csonkapapi with a new construction project. S o following Russia's March 2014 annexation of Crimea, an autonomous republic within Ukraine, P W (along with the rest of the world) questioned what that meant for our sisters and brothers in Christ in Eastern Europe. PC(USA)'s regional liaison for Central and Eastern Europe, Burkhard Paetzold, agreed to share his insights about the conflict's roots and complicating factors, as well as where he sees hope for a just and peaceful resolution.