Deciding on NATO: A necessary step or a premature move?
Тип публікації :
Стаття
Дата випуску :
2014
Автор(и) :
Braychevskyy, Y.
Мова основного тексту :
Англійська
eKNUTSHIR URL :
Журнал :
Випуск :
29
ISSN :
2308-135X
Початкова сторінка :
87
Кінцева сторінка :
100
Цитування :
[APA 7] Braychevskyy, Y. (2014). Deciding on NATO: A necessary step or a premature move?. Географія та туризм, (29), 87-100. https://ir.library.knu.ua/handle/15071834/30039
[ДСТУ] Braychevskyy Y. Deciding on NATO: A necessary step or a premature move?. Географія та туризм. 2014. Вип. 29. P. 87-100. URL: https://ir.library.knu.ua/handle/15071834/30039 (date of access: 14.08.2026).
This previously unpublished text has been prepared for the conference on Ukraine –
European Union relations (―Ukraine and EU Members or Neighbours?‖) held by Kyiv
Mohyla Academy in Kyiv in 2008. Although, over the six following years, the social context
became rather outdated, we believe that the recent events of Maidan-2014 and the following
conflict in the East of Ukraine bring the ideas expressed in the paper from hypothetical to
practical dimension. Therefore, we offer this text as a retrospective clue for better
understanding of Ukraine‘s political outburst of 2014.
Ukraine has declared European and Euro-Atlantic integration to be its ‗number one‘
foreign policy priority. However, a serious debate is going on on whether the declared course
is indeed representing interests of Ukrainians. One can observe a serious split not only
within Ukrainian political elite but also among the population. There is a clear geographical
pattern of people‘s attitude towards the EU and NATO. Ukrainians still have not created their
common identity with more or less clear notion of Ukraine‘s place and role in the
contemporary world. One may distinguish at least two identities: the Ukrainian-nationalist
one of western regions and the soviet identity in the east and south with central Ukraine
wavering in between. This paper argues that Ukrainians are not ready to make a rational
choice about NATO and European integration. The choice, if it were to be made, would be
guided by emotions and stereotypes rather than understanding of real ‗pros‘ and ‗cons‘.
Forcing people to decide about NATO membership at this point is a dangerous path towards
not only refusing participation in Euro-Atlantic security system but also refusing the values of
democracy and civil society. More so, treating NATO membership as a necessary step on the
road to the EU may have a negative effect on public opinion on European integration.
European Union relations (―Ukraine and EU Members or Neighbours?‖) held by Kyiv
Mohyla Academy in Kyiv in 2008. Although, over the six following years, the social context
became rather outdated, we believe that the recent events of Maidan-2014 and the following
conflict in the East of Ukraine bring the ideas expressed in the paper from hypothetical to
practical dimension. Therefore, we offer this text as a retrospective clue for better
understanding of Ukraine‘s political outburst of 2014.
Ukraine has declared European and Euro-Atlantic integration to be its ‗number one‘
foreign policy priority. However, a serious debate is going on on whether the declared course
is indeed representing interests of Ukrainians. One can observe a serious split not only
within Ukrainian political elite but also among the population. There is a clear geographical
pattern of people‘s attitude towards the EU and NATO. Ukrainians still have not created their
common identity with more or less clear notion of Ukraine‘s place and role in the
contemporary world. One may distinguish at least two identities: the Ukrainian-nationalist
one of western regions and the soviet identity in the east and south with central Ukraine
wavering in between. This paper argues that Ukrainians are not ready to make a rational
choice about NATO and European integration. The choice, if it were to be made, would be
guided by emotions and stereotypes rather than understanding of real ‗pros‘ and ‗cons‘.
Forcing people to decide about NATO membership at this point is a dangerous path towards
not only refusing participation in Euro-Atlantic security system but also refusing the values of
democracy and civil society. More so, treating NATO membership as a necessary step on the
road to the EU may have a negative effect on public opinion on European integration.
Ключові слова :
Галузі знань та спеціальності :
C2 Політологія
Галузі науки і техніки (FOS) :
Соціальні науки, міждисциплінарні
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