How My View Grew

Valerii Pekar: Ukraine's stunning resilience


Listen Later

Two years ago, Ukraine stunned the world with its response to Russia's full-scale invasion. Where did its resilience come from?

Leading Ukrainian civic activist Valerii Pekar has an answer. It's a story of a nation—and a man—undergoing two major transformations after the fall of the Soviet Union. First, a shift into freedom, then an awakening of dignity and civic activism.

Why this matters to you and me: If Russia were to defeat Ukraine, its next likely targets are NATO countries the United States is bound by treaty to defend.

Here's the back story—cultural, political, economic, and personal—behind Ukraine's extraordinary response to Russian aggression.

**Key takeaways**

  • 7:00 The many facets of freedom after the fall of the Soviet Union
  • 10:35 Ukrainians vote for independence
  • 12:30 Valerii shifts from traditional to modern worldview
  • 15:00 Moscow tries to steal an election. Ukrainians take to the streets
  • 19:00 Valerii's speech on the Maidan about Ukraine's three revolutions
  • 20:00 The progressive postmodern worldview emerges
  • 23:00 Ukrainians explore a big question: what mistakes did we make ten years ago
  • 25:30 Valerii is elected to the National Reform Council
  • 29:30 A meeting with the President, who issues an invitation
  • 31:00 Russia invades, and Ukraine's new horizontal networks activate
  • 34:30 My reflections

**Resources**

  • Valerii's essays in the journal New Eastern Europe

**Share the love**

Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

**Subscribe to the podcast**

To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

How My View GrewBy Amiel Handelsman

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

47 ratings


More shows like How My View Grew

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,951 Listeners

Conversations with Tyler by Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Conversations with Tyler

2,459 Listeners

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel by Esther Perel Global Media

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

14,891 Listeners

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

5,564 Listeners

SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

SmartLess

58,860 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,223 Listeners

Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

Good Inside with Dr. Becky

4,522 Listeners

Empire: World History by Goalhanger

Empire: World History

2,444 Listeners