U.S. Institute to sponsor briefing (12/08/91)

U.S. Institute to sponsor briefing

WASHINGTON - The United States Institute of Peace will sponsor a briefing and book launch on Thursday morning, December 12, at the University Club, 1135 16th St., NW in Washington.

The 9:15 a.m. current issues briefing, "Ukraine's Path to Independence: Nationalism, Relations with Russia and the New Union," will also include a presentation of a new book by David Little, titled "Ukraine: The Legacy of Intolerance."

The book, the first volume of a six-part study on religion, nationalism, and intolerance is the product of a working group on religion, ideology, and peace established by the United States Institute of Peace to consider how religions and similar beliefs sometimes contribute to conflict, as well as methods for managing such conflicts and encouraging peaceful pluralism.

Ukrainian aspirations for independence and a pluralistic society face serious complications stemming from age-old religious and ethnic divisions among adherents of the three dominant faiths in Ukraine - Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, and Ukrainian Catholic. "[These hostilities] frustrate the process of redefining in more equitable and agreeable terms Ukraine's relation to the other republics in the Soviet Union and primarily to the Russian Republic," said Dr. Little in his new book, "Ukraine: The Legacy of Intolerance."

"Ukraine: The Legacy of Intolerance" argues that association with one faith is commonly perceived as a statement of political belief and loyalty to the state. Tensions among the Churches stemming from theological and ecclesiological differences are interconnected with divergent historical interpretations of national identity and aggravated by underlying political connotations.

Believing that views of national legitimacy are so connected with religious preference, Prof. Little urges that freedom of religion in Ukraine must be coupled with tolerance for varying viewpoints of Ukrainian nationalism.

Presenters at the briefing will include:

Dr. Little, a senior scholar for religion, ethics, and human rights at the United States Institute of Peace, he is a former professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia and the author or co-author of four books, including, most recently, "Human Rights and the Conflict of Cultures; Western and Islamic Perspectives on Religious Liberty."

Bohdan R. Bociurkiw, professor of political science at Carleton University in Ottawa, and a specialist in Soviet and Ukrainian politics and religious policy and Church-State relations in Eastern Europe; and the Rev. Frank Estocin, dean of the Ukrainian Orthodox Center in Philadelphia, a prominent official of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. and a member of the editorial staff of the magazine Ukrainian Orthodox Word.

For more information and to make reservations for the December 12 event please call the United States Institute of Peace, Public Affairs and Information Office, (202) 429-3839.