Exclusion or inclusion? Historical policy and state symbols in Ukraine

There is continued debate in Ukrainian society about the criteria that should provide the basis for the definition of a ,,Ukrainian nation". One of the most important aspects of this issue is the construction of national-historical images, which are seen as the source from which fundamental values and political options should be derived as points of orientation for the future. This article examines central elements and meanings of Ukraine's national self-image by looking at discussions about the state coat of arms. It also looks at the ways in which the meanings of the national-historical images and self-images underlying the state symbols have been modified by the state leadership in recent years in order to accommodate the different regional cultures of remembrance in Ukraine.