The Revolution of Dignity (2013–2014) and Its Educational Impact: Civic Identity Formation and Social Science Education in Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines the 2013–2014 Revolution of Dignity as a defining historical event that transformed Ukraine by influencing its political evolution, national self-definition, and European integration trajectory. It is considered a pivotal stage in the country’s democratic development and geopolitical reorientation. The study aims to analyze the causes, driving forces, and consequences of the Revolution of Dignity, as well as to determine its role in reshaping Ukraine’s domestic and international positioning. The research design integrates historical-comparative analysis, evaluation of official documents, online data collection, and a review of Ukrainian and foreign academic literature. This comprehensive approach makes it possible to trace continuity between earlier civic movements—such as the Revolution on Granite and the Orange Revolution—and the Revolution of Dignity as successive phases of democratic transformation. The findings demonstrate that although the refusal to sign the EU Association Agreement triggered the protests, their deeper causes lay in systemic corruption, authoritarian governance, and the concentration of power. The Revolution revitalized civil society, accelerated Ukraine’s movement toward European integration, and marked a decisive break with Soviet imperial legacies. The article also examines the educational dimension of the Revolution of Dignity, in particular its impact on the development of civic education, the political socialization of youth, and the teaching of modern Ukrainian history.The Revolution of Dignity was not merely a domestic protest movement but also a geopolitical turning point that redefined Ukraine’s role in Europe, intensified decommunization processes, strengthened national identity, and affirmed the European course as a safeguard of sovereignty.