Why does Ukraine look to the West for inspiration as opposed to Russia? To answer this question, we have to understand the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest and most populous countries in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries - a country that is now lost to history, a country that engulfed much of modern-day Ukraine. 

The government of this Commonwealth was a mixture of different forms of ruling systems - e.g., monarchy, aristocracy and a republic, with many checks and balances that limited the powers of its elected kings. Later in its history, the Commonwealth adopted the first modern European constitution. In addition, the ruling elite of this polity mainly were Catholic. All of this, including Catholicism, affected Ukraine's history, and its preference for a consensual form of government. 

As Professor Robert Frost explains in this episode, Ukraine was occupied by this Commonwealth and ruled from Krakow just as long, if not longer, than it has been occupied by Russia and ruled from Moscow. Professor Frost is the Chair of History at the University of Aberdeen. For the last 22 years, his main research interest has been in the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Union and its legacy. Visit his academic homepage to learn more about his extensive scholarship.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Adel Host of ThePeel.news podcast

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