This year marks the tenth anniversary of Ukraine's historicDeclaration of Sovereignty, and the country will celebrate itsfirst full decade of independence in August 2001. Yet,Ukraine's record as an independent state has been disap-pointing at best. Even after ten years, living standards formuch of the population continue to fall. Development of civilsociety has been slow, if nonexistent. Political parties are verymuch nascent institutions. Opinion surveys indicate highlevels of frustration among citizens, coupled with extremelylow levels of perceived political efficacy. The economy re-mains dominated by large, inefficient state enterprises andcollective farms, dinosaurs left over from the former regime.In many respects, Ukraine appears unable to move forward;the vision of its future has been shaped largely by its recentpast.