News
Retrospective of the XII International PR-Festival. National idea for Ukraine: to be or not to be, that is the question
A kind of thematic core within the program of the second, the «political» day of the XII International PR-Festival was the panel discussion «The National idea for Ukraine».
In light of recent events theme of national unity seems to be almost more important than the problem of territorial integrity. As the first, in fact, determines the second. Considering the complexity and ambiguity of the issue, organizers gathered for the panel discussion of PR-forum representatives of various professional and social spheres – writers, philosophers, PR-consultants, church leaders, politicians, political strategists, economists from Ukraine, CIS and foreign countries.
As expected, a nut called «national idea» appeared to be more than hard. In any case, no single recipe, how to «crack» it, thus combining the Ukrainian people and defining which way today we have to go, was not found. However, each speaker made his great contribution to the overall results of the decision matrix. And the fact that the views and opinions of the participants on the issue discussed sometimes were radically different, once again made it possible to understand how important it is to be able to look at the problem from different perspectives to get a veracious idea about it. And, consequently, the premises for its solution.
In many statements within the first section of the debate on the social and political aspect of the problem of national unity, it was suggested that for Ukraine, with its diverse population and difficult historical luggage, the unifying factor in today's conflict and for the further development can be the church. The idea, in particular, was expressed by the Ukrainian journalist and TV host Vitaliy Portnikov: «...Considering the lack of real unifying political, ethical and moral authority for the entire Ukrainian world, or, as you wish, for all of the Ukrainian state in its present territorial boundaries, such uniting massages would have to be delivered by the church... It may be archaic vision for many people. But the main moral social responsibility should be based on the ecclesiastical institutions... They were able to show that responsibility during the days of the protest movement. If they preserve this responsibility now, we will be able to get out of this situation.» He was supported by the head of the Synodal Information Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Archpriest Fr. Georgiy Kovalenko: «We are the only structure that is still represented in the Crimea as well as in the East and the West, and in the center. Ukrainian Orthodox Church today – the dominant confession in all but three areas, regions of Ukraine. Take our unity, use it, and make it a platform for dialogue. The Church does not divide its believers according to national, linguistic, political, geopolitical, social features. Because we have something more – weare united in Christ. Christ is greater than our differences. Similarly, the Ukrainian people have to find something more than political and other differences.» Father George has focused on how is important today for Ukrainians to regain the lost ability to listen, hear and respect each other, «We have very dependent officials and very independent people. So let's rely on our diversity and get truly united, preserving our differences. Every one of us is ready to give his life for something that precious to him. Therefore, we must respect the other shrines, the value of the other one, the other position, and resolve issues still in dialogue, rather than confrontation. And sometimes you need to remove helmets and masks to see the other person, created by the image and likeness of God.»
In favor of a unifying role of the church and the importance of basic Christian values as key massages to form a national unity in Ukraine, spoke also a director of the Ukrainian Institute in London Andy Hunder. At the same time, he stressed that an important vector for strengthening the democratic foundations of society in this case is the human factor: «...the people and the nation have shown that they have broken the fear that remained from the Soviet Union …it is very important to preserve, and, being based on this unity, to continue to build a society. Civil and human dignity – the most important thing that can unite now.» Head of the Department of Theory and Methods of Public Relations at the National University «Kyiv-Mohyla Academy» Valentin Korolko in his speech addressed to the origins of the national movement, quoting thoughts on issue of famous Ukrainian social, political and cultural figures of the past. While emphasizing that each of these views is valuable and enlightening, sometimes is radically different from the other one. «I think we need to pay attention to one important fact... Indeed, the national idea depends on many factors – social, historical, etc. At the same time, this idea, which is based on these components and dependent on them, has the inverse influence on the processes that occur in society. Which indicates that there can’t be a single, permanent for all ages produced or proposed wording of the national idea as such. It really can not be universal. And at every historical turning point must be specified in accordance with the challenges of the time and society.» Arguing about «targeting» of national idea Korolko stressed that it should be directed not only at the patriotic part of the population, but also on those who are oriented toward other ethnic and cultural values. «We have no right to see enemies in people with other mental code. There is other, civilized way. We must agree that the reason for our differences – it's not our fault. Knowing the historical roots of the reasons we have to rise above these differences, mutual phobias, stereotypes of the past and to crystallize and enrich those that unite us. Ukraine – a multicultural country, moreover, there is some historical roots that split our culture, our mentality to the east and west. These differences are significant for the representatives of each nation. Should we destroy it or overstate what is our own, but is not suitable for people of other nations and cultures? This path is wrong and dead end. And the best thing we can do – is to rise above these problems.»
Ukrainian philosopher Miroslav Popovich began his speech in the section with reflections on whether the society can set a goal, without turning to a totalitarian one: «If we set ourselves the task to find something in common that makes us one political entity, we get on a very dangerous path of transformation into some sort of parts of the social mechanism.» According to the philosopher, Ukrainian state in its current development stage should start from the point of independence, political and economic freedom: «What is a basis for policies that can not be dismissed? The first – the recognition of independence and sovereignty of theUkrainian philosopher Miroslav Popovich began his speech in the section with reflections on whether the society can set a goal, without turning to a totalitarian one: «If we set ourselves the task to find something in common that makes us one political entity, we get on a very dangerous path of transformation into some sort of parts of the social mechanism.» According to the philosopher, Ukrainian state in its current development stage should start from the point of independence, political and economic freedom: «What is a basis for policies that can not be dismissed? The first – the recognition of independence and sovereignty of the Ukrainian state. There is no need to say what it is. This is a maximum itself with which we enter the world politics. We will not get deep in to what form the idea of the sovereignty of society existed in different historical periods, but if we accept the fact of today Ukraine's independence, we must demand this of all citizens. If you do not want to accept than go away to the country that you like. Anyone who lives here should forbid himself doing things that are contrary to the principles of independence. The second postulate, which all must take – the postulate of freedom, today there is a parliamentary type of democracy. Again, we can judge differently about freedom as a value in the history, but today those who draw to authoritarianism, to a leveling of the individual puts himself outside of society. Another important factor for the existence of the country – a certain level of material well-being.»
As summarizing in this section was the performance of the political technologist Denis Bogush, who spoke about the experience of the search of the national idea in the early 2000s and, in particular, highlighted the problem of the lack of information and educational background in modern Ukraine, sort of a national product to «glue» the nation, as an expert said. Nevertheless, according to Bogush, a factor that can play a bridging role between nationalities and views: «We tried to formulate the national idea. It is expressed very simply: our land – is our strength. And Maidan showed how it can transform people, if they live in this territory and feel it.» Among other things, Denis Bogush also raised the issue of the absence in Ukraine of national education and the need for its formation. According to him, this is the reason for many challenges Ukraine faces at the present time period. Which includes also the lack of professional political elite. As a result, people in power have been changing, but the problems remain the same.
Thus, the experts' opinions were divided. Some said that the national idea – it is a utopia and a road to nowhere, the other – it exists. But to formulate it as any particular axiom, common to all participants thought, participants of the first section of the debate have failed. However, by summing all the accents, we can assume that the wording of the land as a source of spiritual strength and national identity proposed by Denis Bogush, could become the basis of this idea.