Ukraine Rejects Extreme Right, Bucking European Trend

Submission Statement: Professor Alexander Motyl discusses how Ukraine has rejected extreme right parties and nationalist authoritarianism, in contrast to recent trends seen in several European countries. Although Ukraine faces significant challenges, including a war with Russia, threats to democracy, and Zelenskyy accumulating some powers, it remains committed to pluralism and gradual democratic reforms, having a pluralistic society, weak state institutions, and now understanding the importance of independence after the Russian invasion. Motyl argues Ukraine’s experience can provide lessons to other European nations facing rising authoritarianism.