Unity beyond Both Shores
The Dniepr as National Symbol of Ukraine
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The Dniepr is more than a large river in Europe. It was the fountainhead of Slavic Orthodoxy, home to the Cossacks, trade route and lifeline; to this day, it is an economic factor and source of energy. In the 17th century, it was the border between Poland and Russia, and to this day, it is often described as a political divide. The presidential elections in early 2010 have relativized this alleged political bisection along the Dniepr; a clear division into east and west Ukraine has been overcome. National symbols such as the Dniepr could contribute to the unity of Ukraine.
(Osteuropa 2-4/2010, pp. 33–48)