The dissolution of the Soviet Union created the possibility of democratic consolidation of institutions, but broke the cultural ties between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, Marin Gherman, director of the Institute of Political Studies and Social Capital in Chernivtsi, stated in a public debate entitled “Golgotha of the Romanian Language”. According to him, the cultural ties between the two states were broken with the dissolution of the USSR, although a large part of the cultural elite in Chernivtsi grew up during the Soviet period in educational institutions in Chisinau and other cities of the current state, the Republic of Moldova.
The director of the Institute of Political Studies and Social Capital in Chernivtsi explained that a large part of Ukraine’s current citizens were citizens of various state entities throughout history, but they have always identified themselves as Romanians. For the Romanians in current Ukraine, the linguistic and ethnic identity is stronger than citizenship.
“In the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, linguistic and ethnic identity was much more important during the last 300 years, unlike in Western Europe, where there was a bond of citizenship. For us, on the contrary, what made us different from others was the language and identity. Empires kept coming over us - Russian, Austrian, Soviet. They kept giving us citizens. The states and borders changed, but there are hundreds of examples of people who never left their village, but spoke the same language and were citizens of about 5-6 countries. There are examples, in Northern Bukovina, of people who were born in the Austrian Empire, grew up and studied during the period of Greater Romania, worked and retired in the USSR and died citizens of Ukraine, but never left their village,” said Marin Gherman.
He also explained that the dissolution of the Soviet Union was the historic chance for many states to strengthen their national identity, to reform the political system and to start reforms that offered citizens democracy and freedom.
“We enjoyed the Gorbachevist period that gave us a geopolitical chance. However, until now we were torn between two countries, but now we are torn between three countries. And this, from a linguistic perspective, did not create the best situations. In the 1990s, when the Independence of the Republic of Moldova was discussed, some of the leaders of the Romanian community in Chernivtsi wanted to obtain the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova. The cultural connection with Chisinau was very important for preserving the culture and national identity in Chernivtsi. We must realize that in the most difficult times, we need leaders and elites. Upright people who had the necessary vision made history. There were people who led others and created an identity icon that people followed. The empires of yesterday and today, the enemies of freedom and democracy, will continue to target opinion leaders and will do everything possible so that these national elites do not appear,” stated Marin Gherman.
According to him, the dissolution of the USSR and the transformation of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine into independent states were processes that led to the breaking of cultural ties between Chisinau and Chernivtsi.
“The 1980s were not only the years of a revival, but were the very years when it seemed that any democratic success was possible. My older colleagues from Chernivtsi say that the best elections from a democratic point of view took place precisely during the thaw period. My conclusion is that it is easier to achieve a victory over tyranny, but it is much more difficult to maintain democratic control over political processes. The 1990s were also the period of missed chances. Not all of us got what we wanted. For the Romanian speakers who found themselves within two states, which emerged after the collapse of the USSR, I’m referring to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, on the one hand, democratic chances of strengthening the institutions appeared. On the other hand, there were particular ruptures. In Chernivtsi, particularly teachers tell me that they regret that there are no more connections with the teachers in Chisinau. A large part of the cultural elite in Chernivtsi was raised during the Soviet period in Chisinau. The creation of two states, on the ruins of the Soviet Union, broke the cultural ties,” Marin Herman pointed out.
The public debate entitled “Golgotha of the Romanian Language” was the 314th installment of the series “Developing Political Culture through Public Debates”. The project is implemented by IPN News Agency with the assistance of the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany.
