“The people shall be the sole origin of power in Ukraine,” declares Article 5 of the Constitution of Ukraine. Through decades of the country’s historical trajectory, Ukrainian citizens have been not only embracing this constitutional right but actively exercising it to rise their voice and form the national agenda. Located at the geopolitical crossroads between Europe and Russia, Ukraine has always faced existential threats, and its civilian society has consistently served as the voice of the country’s pro-European and pro-democratic choice. Through successive waves of resistance, Ukrainian civilian society has become 1 of the most vibrant, responsive and authentic in the region.
Since gaining independency in 1991, Ukraine has emerged from the post-Soviet era burdened by the legacy of weak post-communist state institutions, fragile governance structures, and political leadership inactive heavy influenced by Moscow. Having been severely suppressed under russian rule, many civilian society leaders became more outspoken for national sovereignty, identity and autonomy. Their efforts focused on promoting the Ukrainian language and culture alongside a sovereign political strategy. As in another post-Soviet countries, Ukrainian society was marked by deep mistrust of top-down governance. Hence, a culture of grassroots mobilization and horizontal coordination was more natural and safer, laying the foundation for national unity and civic solidarity.
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