Dynamics of the Ukraianian Population Perception of the Relations Between Ukraine and Russia in the Conditions of Permanent Interstate Tensions (2014–2017)

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to identify the characteristic trends of the Ukrainian population perception changes of the relations between Ukraine and Russia against the backdrop of constant interstate tensions. The article analyzes the empirical data of the "Ukrainian Society" sociological monitoring, carried out by the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the form of annual allUkrainian representative polls, taken place since 1992. The analysis also addressed to the all-Ukrainian representative polls results obtained by the leading Ukrainian sociological centers. As a result of the research, there were revealed the tendencies of changes of the Ukrainian population views about the Ukrainian-Russian relations state. According to the received data, it is established that despite a constant reproduction of tension as a result of the conflict taking place in the east of the country, the Ukrainian masses show a certain decrease of negative dispositions in relation to relations between Russia and Ukraine. Under the influence of an actual inter-state distancing, consistently occuring in the economic, political and cultural spheres, the desire for a sharp separation from Russia, losing the status of a "special" neighbor" is gradually decreasing. A new perception of Russia as a country is being formed. According to this perception the relations with Russia should be based on the common grounds for building interstate relations, as well as with other countries. It has been confirmed that the public opinion of the Ukrainian population concerning the desired character of the relations with Russia is largely been differentiated as a consequence of the differences within the various social groups political and ideological attitudes, thus having clear regional differences: in the West, domains the tendency to distance, in the South and East, the propensity to restore good-neighborly relations is stronger, in the Central region the corresponding dispositions are presented in equal ...