Euromaidan is a phase of crisis syndrome of modernization intensification

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 137, Issue 1-2(1), Pages: 11-14

Citation information:
Poiarkova, T. (2014). Euromaidan is a phase of crisis syndrome of modernization intensification. Economic Annals-XXI, 1-2(1), 11-14. https://ea21journal.world/index.php/ea-v137-03/


Euromaidan is a phase of crisis syndrome of modernization intensification

Abstract. Introduction. Distinguishing of crisis processes regularities has difficulties due to their complex nature, namely the presence of:

  1. latent period to collect features that cause gradual loss of system function;
  2. period of aggravation;
  3. post-crisis state.

Purpose. Search of regularities of appearance and course of Euromaidan. Methods. To solve the raised problem the notion «crisis syndrome of modernization» was used. Taking into account evolution transformations of crisis syndrome of modernization let to overcome the considerations of negative attitude to that notion: the difficulty in distinguishing of crisis manifestations «before» modernization and «after» it. Modernization is a feature inherent to capitalism, where creating of crises and their overcoming are the terms of capitalist development. Recognition of this gives the modernization a broader content than the transition from agrarian phase of development to the industrial one – modernizing as the system renewal. The recognition of necessity to take into consideration the regularities of each phase of political crisis development is of same importance for understanding of the «crisis syndrome of modernization» notion. Results. Within the author’s version of «crisis syndrome of modernization» the Euromaidan events were analyzed considering the latest attempt to modernize the USSR – perestroika (reconstruction). The post-perestroika process was recognized as a gradating one by the indications of gradual accumulation of dysfunction features that became apparent in:

  1. unity of political elite;
  2. stage of social coherence;
  3. openness and trend of political infrastructure (communication canals between political elite and society – social lifts and mass media).

Transition from dysfunction to political crisis was connected with the appearance of political system overdependence symptom caused by geopolitical environment. Conclusion. Thus, Euromaidan was recognized as the phase of intensification of post-modernization chronic state, because the characteristic features of the phenomenon had the following changes:

  1. identification of Ukrainian community – transformation of youth into political subject; gaining of new type of social connection on the basis of future’s (youth’s) defense;
  2. loss of legality of governing stratum due to force actions against peaceful protests;
  3. changes in participation format – transition from actions supporting representatives of governing power or its actions to self-organization forms: self-defense, self-sufficiency;
  4. extension – seizure of power in regions and renewal of self-governing;
  5. re-distribution – transformation of opposition with some parts of governing strata into the means of strikers’ demands articulation.

As the author thinks, the future of Ukrainian political system is strictly stipulated by the following aspects: political elite proposes the effective modernization strategy as a way to overcome the dysfunctional features of political system, or political system will be hard reformatted by means of civil war, because of the lack of resources for another scenarios of system behavior.

Keywords: Ukraine; Euromaidan; Crisis Syndrome of Modernization; Dysfunction

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Received 25.11.2013
(Updated during preparation for publication)