A Comparative Analysis Of Confidence To The CIS Between Ukraine And Russia

This study focuses on examining confidence to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) displayed by the Ukrainian and the Russian respondents in 2011. By juxtaposing its patterns of formation, I approximate the individuals’ preference for a common unification shortly before the beginning of a military confrontation between the two countries. Drawn upon the World Values Survey (WVS) data, I demonstrate that the Ukrainian population viewed the CIS as incompatible with building national identity or increasing the importance of democracy as a form of governance in their country. While also linked to democracy, the CIS was primarily a matter of national pride and, to some extent, an issue of economic prosperity in Russia. In both countries, the CIS was similarly seen by the respondents as a supplement to the national government and an alternative to the West.