Changing perceptions of driving forces in Ukrainian society
Sociologists of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine note that after 2022, there has been a significant shift in perceptions of driving forces in Ukrainian society. The Director of the Institute of Sociology of the NASU, Yevgen Hovakha, emphasized in his interview that the army and entrepreneurs have become the main factors influencing the development of society. This reflects a change in priorities in the consciousness of Ukrainians, who previously focused on other social groups.
From 1994 to 2014, citizens of Ukraine believed that the criminal world and mafia played an important role in society. However, in 2014, the focus shifted, and politicians and officials began to take the lead. But after 2022, according to Hovakha, Ukrainians have radically rethought who the driving force in society is.
'And only after 2022 did the perception of who the driving force in society is change radically among Ukrainians,' - Yevgen Hovakha.
The army plays an important role in the new social context, which primarily consists of peasants and workers, as well as a part of the intelligentsia. In addition, there is a noticeable increase in the number of volunteers in Ukrainian society who actively support the army and entrepreneurship. Oleksiy Antipovych, another expert, emphasized that currently, Ukrainian society is living in a state of depression, and the dynamics of sentiments over the past years show a gradual downward movement.
Social transformations in the face of challenges
Thus, the change in perceptions of driving forces in Ukraine after 2022 indicates deep social transformations occurring in the context of modern challenges.
These changes in Ukrainians' perceptions reflect not only new social realities but also the adaptation of society to the challenges the country faces in the context of war and economic instability. Support for the army and entrepreneurship may indicate the population's aspiration for consolidation and active participation in the country's rebuilding, which, in turn, will affect Ukraine's long-term stability and development.