Ukrainian Society

22-30

Authors: Malyuk A. M.

The article dwells upon the analysis of the social world picture’s influence on social subjects’ choice of the trajectory of the socio-historical development. The main argument presented by the author is that the actors’ social world picture that determines the strategy of the Ukrainian development is formed with the ideas and conceptual constructs that are drawn heavily from mainstream of the Western social sciences. The simulation and peripheral nature of the Ukrainian development model is demonstrated. The attitudes of the Ukrainian population to this model are explored.

44-55

Authors: Pyvovarova N. P.

The article dwells upon the analysis of theoretical and methodological approaches to the terminological explanation and correlation of the concepts of «faith», «religion», «religiosity»; the definition of the structural components, indices and criteria of the «religiosity» and existing research problems relative to the aforementioned on theoretical and empirical levels.

66-77

Authors: Savelyev Yu. B.

Based on a modernization model by R. Inglehart and C. Welzel the factors and value determinants of active civic engagement in Ukraine are identified and compared to selected European countries. Using data from the third (1999–2001), and the fourth (2008–2010) waves of the European Values Study (EVS) as well as the fifth wave (2005–2007) of the World Values Survey (WVS), the political, civic and social types of participation are studied as elements of active civic engagement. Comparative analysis includes four European societies with different development paths, namely Ukraine, Germany, Russia and Poland. It is argued in the article that the active position of social agents and their inclusion in social life determine success of modernization. Since according to the model by R. Inglehart and C. Welzel, value change is the key part of the modernization process, study of the emancipative values influence on active civic engagement can clarify development prospects of Ukrainian society. The findings of the research indicate that emancipative values are a determinants of active position in Ukrainian political sphere, although they do not have significant influence on civic and social participation. Low rates of activity in civic and social spheres induce insufficient level of solidarity, trust and self-government in Ukraine. On the way of building competitive economy and effective institutions it is necessary to stimulate development of NGOs, community integration, volunteering and mutual help behavior. Practical recommendations for public authorities are proposed in order to optimize this process by raising the level of solidarity, trust and self-government in society.

90-98

Authors: Petroe O. M.

The article explores the concept and nature of social capital, its role as a factor of economic development. Author clarifies characteristic features of social capital at macro- and micro level, defines its key features, and generalizes methods of measurement and evaluation. Recommendations for the social capital development as an economic growth resource and a social transformations factor are proposed.

106-118

Authors: Trebin M. P.

The author analyses the challenges facing Ukrainian civil society in the context of European integration, taking into account the views and opinions of European scientists and politicians, namely, the formation of the political and legal culture of Ukrainian citizens, which would meet requirements of the modern European democratic society, fight against the abuse of law-enforcement bodies and citizens; protection of the national minorities’ rights; protection of women and children’s rights; increase of trust level to the judicial system; combatting corruption; overcoming extremism among the population; development of local and regional democracy.

148-173

Authors: Balakireva O. M., Sereda Yu. V.

According to the results of the monitoring survey authors present latest snapshot of Ukrainian population self-evaluation of its financial status, expectations, socio-economic indices and their dynamics traced since 2006 until 2013, and the relationship of social and political orientations.