Democratic Values in Times of War: the Case of Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of value transformations and implementation of democratic values in the context of war. In particular, the focus is on the process of value transformation of Ukrainian society during the 2022 Russian-Ukrainian war. The article examines key aspects of this process, including the impact of the war on the level of national self-identification and patriotism. Special attention is paid to the impact of military conflicts on public attitudes towards the protection of human rights, freedom, the rule of law and other basic democratic values. The purpose of the article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of sociological surveys, analytical reports, expert interviews and other sources that reflect the change in the value paradigm of Ukrainian society and to identify the peculiarities of the introduction of democratic value orientations during the period of hostilities. Particular attention is paid to a comparative analysis of the situation before and after the outbreak of hostilities. In general, the article argues that the transformation of value orientations in Ukrainian society during the war was dynamic and very abrupt, caused by the shock effect. The author notes that this transition gravitates towards the value paradigm of the democratic model. However, in order to strengthen and scale this effect, a comprehensive and systematic work of all actors of value socialisation is needed, including Ukrainian politicians, media, civil society and educational institutions. This article is important for understanding the impact of the war on the democratisation of Ukrainian society and provides practical recommendations for promoting the implementation of democratic values in the context of the conflict.