The Future of Ukrainian Democracy after Elections: Successes and Challenges
The Ukrainian Emerging Leaders Program at the Stanford University Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law has organized a conference on these political developments to discuss pertinent policy issues that will affect Ukraine’s future. This conference reflects how UELP fellows are creating an important place for conversation on global development and Ukraine at Stanford University by raising key questions about the country’s future direction. They are also providing knowledge to their own community by connecting stakeholders in Ukraine to resources at Stanford and Silicon Valley.
Reforms in Ukraine
Since the Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has been scrutinized for its record on implementing reforms. However, in the past five years there have been many more success stories than in the history of Ukrainian independence prior to 2014. This panel will explore some of the most successful reforms in post-Maidan Ukraine, such as steps taken to improve the health care system, economics, and anti-corruption efforts. Please join this discussion, which will be moderated by former Ambassador Steven Pifer.
Nataliya Mykolska
Ukrainian Emerging Leaders Fellow/Former Trade Representative-Deputy Minsiter
Church and Identity
On January 5, 2019 the tomos of autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was signed, thus granting independence for the Ukrainian church, after centuries of subjugation to Russia. This was a historic move for Ukraine on many levels, from its cultural significance to its role in fighting Russian propaganda as the churches under the Moscow Patriarchate were massively used for propaganda Since then, at least 340 parishes that were formerly under the Moscow Patriarchate have joined with the newly independent church. The creation of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a watershed moment in the global understanding of Ukrainian identity.
Yury Avvakumov
Associate Professor of Theology and History of Christianity at the University of Notre Dame
Francis Fukuyama
Mosbacher Director of the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University
Panel Moderator
New Faces of Ukrainian Politics
Oleksandr Danchenko
Samopomich
Artur Gerasymov
Bloc Petro Poroshenko
Hanna Hopko
Independent/Head of Foreign Relations Committee
Mykhailo Lev
Hromadyanska Pozitsiya
Mustafa Nayyem
Dii z nami
Maksym Nefyodov
Lyudi Vazhlyvi
Alex Ryabchyn
Batkyvshchyna
Melinda Haring
Moderator, Atlantic Council
Security and Foreign Policy
One of the largest challenges Ukraine’s next president will face is the security of the country against Russian aggression. The 2018 Kerch Strait incident not only demonstrated the relentlessness of Russia’s continued incursions on Ukrainian sovereignty, but raised questions as to how Ukraine and the West should act in light of such attacks. Whoever wins the spring 2019 presidential elections will face important strategic decisions in the war effort and cooperation with international allies. This panel will be moderated by FSI Director and former Ambassador Michael McFaul.
Steven Pifer
Steven Pifer William J. Perry fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
Tech and Innovation
IT industry is a growth engine of Ukraine’s economy. Ukraine IT outsourcing industry is a globally recognized leader. Tech ventures working with enterprise software, ML / AI, cyber security, life-science, big data management, gaming, agribusiness and e-commerce. The panel aims to help building bridges between Ukraine, Stanford and Silicon Valley. This panel will be moderated by Nataliya Mykolska.
