Ukraine’s valiant defense has been a boost for American democracy

The war has been a horror, but could it remind Americans that democracy is worth fighting for?

(Today I welcome Perilous Times’ first guest contributor, Glenn Simon. If you want to write a Perilous Times column, contact me at schanzer@duke.edu).

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a catastrophe of epic proportions.  But if Ukraine can ultimately emerge from this conflict as a free and sovereign state, we might one day look back at the heroic Ukrainians not just as the saviors of their country, but the inspiration that reversed the modern decline of western democracy and awakened American democracy from its current lethargy.

Ukraine began its pivot toward the West in 2012 with an association agreement that then-president Victor Yanukovych brokered but then refused to sign.  What followed was the Maidan Revolution in 2014, and thereafter the annexation of Crimea by Russia, and an armed insurgency with pro-Russian unrest in parts of Eastern Ukraine.  That land grab of Crimea, combined with Donetsk and Luhansk declaring themselves independent pro-Russian states, simmered in the background until this year.

A full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February fully tested the resolve of the West and the capabilities of the Ukrainian people in a David and Goliath matchup. Images evoke our worst memories of WWII, the Holocaust, and the 1990s Balkan Wars, rife with artillery barrages, tank battles, urban warfare, civilian displacement, and apparent war-crime atrocities that emphasize the sheer brutality of the conflict.  In the mix of all this has been an escalating threat of nuclear disaster from power plants held hostage, or the ongoing threat by Russia to detonate a nuclear weapon.

Russian victory, which seemed almost a foregone conclusion when the invasion began, would have signaled that the gradual decline of western democracy occurring over the past decade was now a free fall.  Russia would have violated the core democratic concept of “national sovereignty” with impunity. Authoritarianism would be on the rise.  And here at home, what better demonstration of America First doctrine could there have been than to watch the tyrant Putin swallow up a nation state while America stood silently on the sidelines and let it happen. 

But U.S. and NATO involvement, both explicitly (through humanitarian support and weaponry) and implicitly (through diplomacy, intelligence-sharing, and training) has been a game-changer for the trajectory of the conflict and for the success of the scrappy Ukrainians.  No one knows how the conflict will ultimately end, but clearly it has been a geopolitical disaster for Russia and its dictator. The entire concept of “the West” as a model and force for good in the world has been rejuvenated, and NATO has been bolstered by the addition of Finland and Sweden to the alliance. The mere idea of an American president asking “What good is NATO?,” as Trump did in 2018, is now totally inconceivable.

But it is also worth reflecting on how this turn of events has impacted America.  

Perhaps we have witnessed the conflict through the lens of democratic ideals and values-based leadership that have appealed to our better angels as we undergo our own identity crisis here at home?  Maybe we subliminally or overtly caught a glimpse of ourselves in a mirror reflecting another nation coming together to battle a greater enemy (also our adversary), calling upon its people for self-sacrifice, putting it all on the line for freedom and self-determination, valuing its history and cultural institutions, honoring its core values, and respecting its leadership.  While Ukraine may not be the poster child for corruption-free democracy (having a score of 32 out of 100 by Transparency International), we have born witness to courageous leadership, democratic principles, patriotism, unity of purpose, generosity of spirit, empathy, and the deep-seated yearning for freedom and democratic values by the Ukrainian people.

Maybe the leadership of Vladimir Zelensky reminded us of the leaders of our past – Washington, Roosevelt, and Reagan – who rallied the country against adversaries in defense of the universal values of liberty and freedom.  (There is a noteworthy parallelism in Ukraine electing a leader from the entertainment world who is a “Great Communicator” and then goes toe-to toe with Russia). Indeed, there is something quintessentially American in the unlikely story of Zelensky’s rise to power as a Jewish actor-comedian, anti-establishment figure, elected in 2019 with 73% of the vote. He then turns out to be the right leader for the right time. His polished communication skills and fiery leadership were critical in rallying his own people via his established connection to them through his entertainment career. He also demonstrates confidence, humility, and values-based leadership. These leadership qualities coupled with his openness and candor put him in stark contrast to his adversary in the Kremlin, and to our own immediate past president.  A Pew Research Poll found that 72 percent of Americans have a lot (33 percent) or some (39 percent) confidence in Zelensky to do the right thing in world affairs — better than any other national leader tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine.  Time Magazine’s latest “Man of the Year” could well be the first international hero of the 21st century.

In some ways, Zelensky and Ukraine have become our alter-ego, and maybe just in time help douse some of the flames of Trumpism, division, and home-grown extremism.  I believe that Ukraine and the exemplary leadership of Zelensky are serving to move the needle of our politics as an existential cause we can all relate to and get behind.  Inasmuch as we have come to the aid of Ukraine, backdropped by the courageous accomplishments of its leadership and people, the war in Ukraine has provided us with valuable insights to, and reminders of, our traditionally American values of self-sacrifice, freedom, unity, and patriotism.  Indeed, as of early October, 75% of Americans felt that we should continue to support Ukraine including weaponry and humanitarian aid to refugees.   Sometimes world events help to shake us out of our complacency and remind us of how powerful the construct of democracy and self-determination can be when we witness others who are threatened with losing it.

So, as our national interest and shared values has led us to strongly support Ukraine, maybe we should also be thankful to Ukraine for affording us a well-needed, well-timed reminder of the fragility and potential of our own democratic principles, and the power of values-based, courageous leadership in bringing people together.