Asymmetrical international integration and Ukrainian national disunity

This article examines the impact of international integration on ethno-regi onal relations in multiethnic states. It argues that when ethno-regions in such a state have different geographic patterns of foreign ties, national u nity suffers. "Asymmetrical international integration"(AII) hinders nationa l cohesion by reducing the cultural similarity of the ethno-regions, sharpe ning their disputes over foreign policy, and intensifying their disparate i dentities. This argument is evaluated using the case of Ukraine. Analysis o f a survey distributed to approximately 1000 elites in two key Ukrainian ci ties in 1994-95, as well as of other data, demonstrates that AU exists, is believed by Ukrainians to weaken national unity, and in fact does weaken na tional unity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.