Social Cohesion in Decentralized Ukraine: From Old Practices to New Order

• Authors: Deineko Oleksandra

Title variants

PL

Spójność społeczna w zdecentralizowanej Ukrainie: od starych praktyk do nowego porządku

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The article presents a systematic study of social cohesion phenomenon at the level of amalgamated hromadas as a key local entity of decentralization reform in Ukraine. Building on the analysis of the 26 semi-structured interviews conducted in amalgamated hromadas of two border regions of Ukraine – Kharkiv and Chernivtsi, the author has identified social cohesion components, their interconnection as well as positive and negative factors of social cohesion strengthening at community level. Relying on Chan’s empirical model and perceived perspective of social cohesion, hromada amalgamation is conceptualized as a transformation process of avoiding ‘old practices’ to form ‘new order’. In the process, the establishing of democratic tools, local activist growth, reducing gaps between center and periphery, formation of common sociocultural space are emphasized. Strengthening social cohesion components at the hromada level are stated to become a sure basis for ‘a giant leap’ of Ukraine’s democratisation in the nearest future.

PL

Celem artykułu jest systematyczne zbadanie zjawiska spójności społecznej na poziomie podstawowych jednostek samorządu terytorialnego – połączonych hromad – powstałych na skutek reformy decentralizacyjnej w Ukrainie. Na podstawie analizy 26 wywiadów częściowo ustrukturyzowanych przeprowadzonych w połączonych hromadach w dwóch przygranicznych obwodach Ukrainy – charkowskim i czerniowieckim – zidentyfikowano elementy spójności społecznej, ich powiązanie oraz czynniki wzmacniające i osłabiające spójność społeczną na poziomie wspólnoty. Na podstawie empirycznego modelu Chana i perspektywy akcentującej postrzeganą spójność społeczną, powstawanie nowo połączonych hromad jest pojmowane jako proces transformacji polegający na unikaniu „starych praktyk” w celu utworzenia „nowego ładu”. Przy tym akcent jest położony na wprowadzanie demokratycznych narzędzi, wzrost aktywizmu lokalnego, redukowanie różnic między centrum a peryferiami oraz tworzenie nowej przestrzeni społeczno-kulturowej. Badania pokazały, że wzmocnienie spójności społecznej na poziomie hromady tworzy solidne podstawy do tego, żeby procesy demokratyzacji w najbliższej przyszłości zaszły w Ukrainie.

Keywords

EN

social cohesion; amalgamated hromada; hromadap; decentralization; Ukrainian society

PL

spójność społeczna; hromada; decentralizacja; społeczeństwo ukraińskie

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Studia Socjologiczne
• Year: 2021
• Issue: 1(240)
• Pages: 117-138

Contributors

author

Deineko Oleksandra

• V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

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Identifiers

DOI

10.24425/sts.2021.136281