Ottawa chair of Ukrainian studies delivers his inaugural lecture (12/07/03)

Ottawa chair of Ukrainian studies delivers his inaugural lecture

by Olena Piaseckyj

OTTAWA - The newly appointed chair of Ukrainian Studies, Dr. Dominique Arel, gave his inaugural lecture at the University of Ottawa on October 8.

The evening began with welcoming remarks by the dean of the faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Joseph De Koninck, and by Dr. Caroline Andrew, dean of the faculty of social sciences. Dr. Andrew spoke of the new partnership achieved between the department of political science and the chair of Ukrainian studies as a result of the chair's joint appointment. The university chapel was filled with representatives of the local Ukrainian Canadian community, professors, students from the University of Ottawa, representatives from the Ukrainian Embassy, government departments, and the Ukrainian-language media. The presentation was also videotaped for the Ottawa Ukrainian television program.

The inaugural address of the evening was delivered by Dr. Arel, who was introduced by Dr. Theofil Kis of the Chair's Advisory Executive Committee. Dr. Arel, according to Dr. Kis, will be adding a new dimension to the chair of Ukrainian studies both by enlarging existing programs and instituting new projects.

Dr. Arel was born in Montreal, studied political science in Illinois, taught at McGill, Wesleyan, Brown, and Yale universities and was a member of the research faculty at the Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies at Brown University between 1996-2003. Dr. Arel has played a central role in stimulating the growth of social science research on contemporary Ukraine and his research has focused primarily on the politics of language and national identity.

In his hour-long lecture titled "Ukraine: A Return to Europe?" Dr. Arel discussed Ukraine's "quest" for Europe, more than 10 years after the fall of communism. Stating that this quest has turned into a difficult, if not painful, endeavor, Dr. Arel focused on several sober observations, among them that "those craving for 'Europe' have often felt that their desire to join is not entirely welcome. In particular, he noted that "the almost mythical idea of Europe clashes with the reality of a protectionist Europe, where deeds don't always follow rhetoric." He also provided two additional observations, namely, that the pull towards a European identity has often been accompanied by an affirmation, or reaffirmation of a Ukrainian identity and, second, that the practical application of so called "European" standards in Ukraine have often been perceived to be uneven. After emphasizing that the idea of a common Europe can be far more conflictual once applied in practice, Dr. Arel went on to sum up Ukraineís quest for Europe as a longing for normality, that is, for a "certain degree of economic development, a society based on the rule of law and on respect of human rights and cultural differences, democratic accountability, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and free enterprise with a safety net."

In introducing the chair of Ukrainian studies at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Arel emphasized that it is the first research unit in Ukrainian studies, in North America and anywhere outside of Ukraine, to be oriented toward social sciences. As such, "we are not trying to replicate the excellent work done by more senior institutions. We are exploring a new path," he stated. In what he described as "understanding through comparison," Dr. Arel underscored that his generation of academics, who came of age following the collapse of communism, are a demonstration that it is possible to become an expert in one area, such as Ukraine, in a way that addresses the concerns and interests of colleagues in other disciplines of social science. Arguing that the decision to orient the chair of Ukrainian studies toward research on contemporary issues is a timely one that is likely to foster even more growth, Dr. Arel maintained that scholars of his generation "aim at breaking the isolation of Ukraine, or post-Soviet specialists in political science department social science departments, to make contemporary research based on the group experience in a particular country respectable to the profession." In a somewhat similar manner, he remarked, referring to the subject of his lecture that "Ukrainians who are orienting themselves toward Europe also wish to end their isolation, the provincialism that the imperial Russian and Soviet states reduced them to."

In his address, Dr. Arel also spoke about his long-standing interest in the politics of language, the types of research problems that could be explored by the Chair as well as his plan of organizing a future conference on the state of social science research in contemporary Ukrainian studies." In his concluding remarks, Dr. Arel spoke to the Ukrainian community in Ukrainian. He then thanked the members of the chair's advisory Executive Committee and expressed warm words of appreciation to Dr. Kis, Dr. Irena Makaryk, Irena Bell, Dr. Natalie Mychajlyszyn and to his wife and daughter for their support. Dr. Arel also expressed words of profound gratitude to his mentor, the late professor Bohdan Bociurkiw, who introduced him to Ukrainian studies.

The evening ended with guests enjoying a reception sponsored by the university's faculty of graduate and postdoctoral studies.

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