Elites and masses in the political process in Ukraine since 1991
Abstract This article analyses the political process in the present day Ukraine with a focus on the ruling elites and masses and attempts to explain what keeps the country from successful transition. It is argued that the mere existence of the formal attributes of democracy such as elections and party system are not enough. The nature of the social relation, inherited by Ukraine from socialist rule and the deeply ingrained behaviour and value system of both masses and elites is one of the major factors hindering democratisation. To substantiate this claim, the article examines the public stances, attitudes, composition, and character of the ruling elite, and the institutions through which it exerts its political influence. The final part is devoted to an exploration of the social preconditions for change in light of the recent political events connected with the rise of the opposition.
The New Ukranian Constitution: In Pursuit of a Compromise
This paper analyses the new 1996 Ukrainian constitution as a product of far-reaching compromise; in particular it looks at the resolution of the ‘national question’, the form of government and the issue of socio-economic guarantees. Constitutions are most often perceived as an instrument of restraining governments and providing a bill of civil rights and freedoms. In new states, however, constitutions purport not only to redefine but often to set up the political and socio-economic structures as well as define the ‘ownership’ of the state. In Ukraine, last amongst the post-Soviet states to adopt a constitution, the drawn out constitution making process revealed a fundamental disagreement on the conception of Ukrainian statehood and nationhood and the cohort of rules and institutions deemed as best suited to Ukrainian society.
Same Same But Different - also in Europe! A New Methodological Approach in Cross-Country Analysis of Communication Structuresapplied to five EU member states
The EU still lacks a truly European public sphere. On this level, there is still a clear lack of integration between individual member states. This means that national public spheres and cultures are still of great importance for European communication and media professionals. Comparative research into the similarities and differences between different nations is therefore valuable for cross-border PR communication activities. This paper lays out the methodological foundation for such research, discussing possible approaches and difficulties associated with comparative research. The author then introduces a potential heuristic framework for comparative analysis: the International Corporate Communication Compass. This framework is applied to five case-study EU countries (Denmark, Germany, France, Poland and the UK), showing the differences and similarities in a range of different contexts that affect public communication in all its forms. The conclusion examines how the results of such studies could be used in order to compare communication identities of different countries. This can potentially help in the development of a European public identity on the long run and in a first step can led towards a better, more adapted communication structure about European citizenship. Ultimately, communication structures within the EU might become more Europeanized than they