The Unitary Executive Theory and the Reach of Presidential Power

Professor Amelia Glaser

This lecture will discuss the strange legacy of a Cossack who, even today, is perceived as a hero by Ukrainians, a villain by Jews, a dangerous ally by Russians, and a historical enemy by Poles. The Cossack leader Bogdan Khmelnytsky led the 1648 rebellion that wrested the Ukrainian territories from Polish rule. He has since been memorialized by Ukrainians as a God-given nation builder. But in this campaign, the collateral damage included the massacre of thousands of Jews perceived as Polish intermediaries, and the Khmelnytsky massacres came to symbolize the torments of the Jewish diaspora. Khmelnytsky serves as a fascinating example of how a single figure can mean utterly different things to different cultures.