Секция
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Социология
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политология
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On Kryazh’s (2007) report from the research in 2003, socio-
economic and ethnocultural situations play an important role, where the
main regional diff erences in social representations are associated with
the behavioral model of a socially active citizen. Eastern respondents
during the assessment focused on positive economic changes, while
Western respondents - on economic diffi
culties.
Although democratization theory and ‘conventional wisdom’
say ethnic diversity within one nation can challenge and weaken a
democratizing state, Ukraine proves the opposite picture where regional
divisions can be managed in a manner that promotes stability, civic
state-building, and democratization, and where regional diversity is
rather a strength in the democratization process.
Nevertheless, the problems may arise in foreign policy strategies.
The split in mass opinion about prioritizing one or other relations may
serve rather as a negative factor. Restructuring the society and unifying
it in one direction is a compound task, as it takes its roots from centuries
ago. From the analysis of informal division of Ukraine, it can be
concluded that the changing orientations in politics, i.e., rapprochement
with one ally and his rejection after a few years, can be related to the
nature of Ukrainian identity, which is more complex than it seems.
Energy crisis
Ukraine’s tendency to reorder its foreign policy despite cultural
similarities and racial identity says about its fl uctuation in the global
arena. Disputes with Russia over gas began in 2005 and took place a
number of times in a manner of continuous supply cuts and restorations
until 2014.
In 2010, during the summit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Russia agreed to decrease
the cost of gas exports by 30 percent. This was supposed to be the
end of gas confl icts. However, the views of president Yanukovych
about Russian-Ukrainian relationship were too pro-Kremlin and
positive.
Kyiv is asymmetrically dependent on subsidized imports from
Russia, being a transit state for 50–80 percent of Gazprom’s deliveries
to Europe. Cutting gas pipelines through Europe was not estimated as a
very risky decision for Russia, because Europe itself was determined to
construct more pipelines, such as Nord Stream.
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