Although I may be underestimating my peers, the majority of
KU undergraduate students have no idea where Ukraine is geographically. However, the student newspaper recently
reported on the Ukrainian parliamentary elections as destroying democratic
potential within the government.
It summarized the lack of transparency, misuse of finances, and “abuse
of power” that took place in these elections. Many Western observers, including Hilary Clinton, labeled
these elections as a “step-backwards” and a digression of progress.
Western NGO’s have trained internal monitors for the
elections and reported live of voting fraud or violations. Live surveillance was broadcast at
major voting stations. In fact,
the majority of financial aid from the West is directed specifically for
programs and events to promote democratic principles. Yet, rumors of stuffing ballot boxes, bribes, and magic pens
persisted throughout these elections.
Even with precautions and financial support, parliamentary elections
evaded translucency and democracy.
The West funds Ukraine to enable and encourage more
democratic principles. Therefore,
these agencies have the ability to rate the outcomes of these projects. However, Ukraine is failing to meet
their expectations. Despite
the financial contributions and commitment to democracy, these institutions
will not facilitate change from a top down approach.
The fact that this problem persists in Ukraine is not
because of it politics or parties.
Ukrainian corruption is found throughout society. From traffic law violators, to
marshytka drivers, hotel owners, and the man who reads the water meter, each
can and many do enable profiteering. Repetitive variations of stories persist
of traffic violations where the innocent party is threatened by the police to
plead guilty because the marshytka driver has bribed (and can afford to) the
reporting officer. In the
professional world, an employer of the water company assigned to read the meter
proposed to the owner of a laundro-mat to be paid personally for the first few
months before he began reading the meter.
Sociologist Oleg Demkiv stated that the problem with
Ukrainian corruption is not a political problem but rather a societal
problem. The political behavior is
a microcosm of society itself. Condemning
the leaders of parties is not enough; an innate change in society is required
to bring to pass a more democratic society.
If students are willing to sell their votes on social
networking sites, bribes by politicians will persist. Solzhenitsyn explains that it is a historical component of
society and becomes part of the character of a nation. However, it is misunderstood by
outsiders and cannot be assessed adequately. Incomprehensible to Western observers, selling democracy is
a sociological issue that cannot be condemned or critiqued fairly by other
cultures. Only understanding
society can enable change. “Democracy - is primarily the responsibility of all
citizens in the state of affairs in the country.” Exercising individual will is the only way to instill lasting
democratic principles.
Obviously there are Ukrainians who are ready for
change. Consider Ydar’s canididate
Klychko whose campaign advocates ending corruption. Promoting these leaders and integrity in society will have
much more influence than installing programs or video cameras. A bottom-up approach may be the best
and only option for a more democratic Ukraine.
Resources
Associated Press. “Democratic Potential Halted By Election
Results.” University Daily Kansan. October 30, 2012.
Держдепартамент США вважає, що вибори в Україні стали кроком
назад на шляху до демократії
30 жовтня 2012, 07:32
Парламент, який обереться у жовтні, не буде потрібним
суспільству
Костянтин Матвієнко _ Вівторок, 10 липня 2012, 15:10
Oksana Pachlovska.
“Не-європейська Україна”
(“Un-European Ukraine”)
“США та Євросоюз стурбовані ходом виборчої кампанії в
Україні.” (“U.S. and EU concerned
about the course of the election campaign in Ukraine”)
24 жовтня 2012, 20:35
Анатолій ОРЕЛ.
“Iнтеграційні проекти: де майбутнє України?”
Oleg Demkiv.
“Permissiveness in Ukrainian Society.” University of Ivan Franko. June 2012.
Solzhentsyn, Alekandr.
“A World Split Apart.”
Commencement Address, Harvard.
June 8, 1978.
Nice post, and the question of how to clean up corruption is as old as humankind. I think that Americans are beginning to understand, that ‘elections’ are no panacea for a weak and economically bereft country like Ukraine. More importantly, leaders in Washington are beginning to realize that democratic principles cannot be implemented from above or from outside, but must grow from the ground up. What’s the point of monitoring elections in Ukraine and cataloging all the infractions (in the hope of bringing these charges into a court of law) when the Ukrainian court system is riddled with the same corruption?
ReplyDeleteThe challenge is to develop systems which reward honesty and punish thievery. This is a long and exhaustive process, usually taking a couple of generations or more to carry out. I think that the best Americans can do is to try and practice what they preach.
Yes, I agree. I am interested in the future of Klychko, the Ukrainian boxer to politician. Although he is extremely wealthy, he hasn't made his money through Ukrainian connections. But, he is just one man.
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