The socio-economic origins of left-wing populism in Ukraine

Abstract

The socio-economic impoverishment of the population due to the prolonged structural crises of the economy has led to the phenomenon of left-wing populism in Ukraine. Economic attitudes related to populist ideas were analyzed based on empirical data. Ukrainians' support for populism was manifested in their attitude to the structure of property in the economy and mechanisms for ensuring material well-being. However, if the support of the dominance of private/state ownership in the economy is conditioned by the factor of macro-regional demarcation, then the attitude towards government/individual responsibility for the welfare of citizens is determined by utilitarian considerations. Instead, Ukrainians' populist demands regarding employment, wages, and industrial competition, although they have a place in public opinion, nevertheless a significant share of citizens understand the impossibility of these slogans under market conditions. This actually explains the predominance of socio-cultural determinants in relation to the ethical aspects of economic life. In addition, the connection of populist orientations with left-wing political and ideological identity indicates the existence of post-Soviet resentment among a significant part of the population of Ukraine. Such dual existence of «old» and «new» institutions still remains a space for the spread of populist orientations, which will manifest itself in the post-war period.