Society

Empirical model of congruence of mental space as a tool for the analysis of changes in international relations

Economic Annals-XXI

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 176, Issue 3-4, Pages: 4-12

Citation information:
Ishchenko, I., Bashkeieva, O., & Petrov, P. (2019). Empirical model of congruence of mental space as a tool for the analysis of changes in international relations. Economic Annals-XXI, 176(3-4), 4-12. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V176-01

View Full-TextDownload PDF

Igor Ishchenko
D.Sc. (Political Science),
Associate Professor,
Head of the International Relations Department,
Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
72 Gagarin Ave., Dnipro, 49010, Ukraine
iv.ishchenko@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5799-7364

Olena Bashkeieva
PhD (Philosophy),
Associate Professor,
Ukrainian State University of Chemical-Technology
8 Gagarin Ave., Dnipro, 49005, Ukraine
olena.bashkeieva@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7029-2465

Pavlo Petrov
PhD (Political Science),
Associate Professor,
Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
72 Gagarin Ave., Dnipro, 49010, Ukraine
ppgdmo@gmail.com
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9124-1763

Empirical model of congruence of mental space as a tool for the analysis of changes in international relations

Abstract. Recently, we have observed a lack of modern research on the question of the practical realisation of the mental space concept. This determines the topicality of the authors’ research. The article studies the multiple ways of development of international economic and political relations, based on an empirical model of interaction of mental spaces. The authors of the article have developed an empirical model on the basis of a formula containing (in a codified form) an imbalance of mental constructs of the basic political and institutional structures and the environment. The concepts of «congruent interference» and «non-congruent interference» of mental constructs have been introduced. The mental space consists of a dynamic unity of mental constructs. The present research is based on the following empirical models: the political process (introduced by Donald Morrison and Hugh Stevenson) and the mass instability (developed by Ted Gurr). It has been shown that such an integrated approach makes a new concept topical, being the imbalance of the mental construct. It is calculated as the sum of four elements such as the level of realisation of individual values of the public environment as a result of the implementation of foreign policy, the level of realisation of basic political institutional structure values connected with the social environment, the emotional factor of the basic political institutional structures interacting with the social environment, and compensatory resources. The authors have presented prospective methods of influencing the mental space, given the current trends in the development of information and social networks, where the black swan effect is crucial in the information field. In terms of modern conditions, this effect is associated with the emergence of unforeseen actors capable of changing the public opinion. These are the public opinion leaders. The manipulation of social networks has been emphasised among the methods of influence. A method based on creating groups, public pages and channels for interpreting the events has been shown. It is also noted that the successful interaction of states is possible thanks to the congruent interference of their mental spaces. The reason for the deterioration of relations between them is the imbalance of mental constructs and spaces in general, resulting in the political instability. The given model can be successfully used for analysing and forecasting not only the development of international relations and making alterations to the foreign policy. It is obvious that the scope of its application can include as well the renewed trust to the candidates seeking elections, the managers at any level and the like. In fact, the quality of the social relations between the two subjects can be shown in accordance with the abovementioned model.

Keywords: Mental Space; Mental Construct; Interaction; Environment; Congruent Interference; Influence; Distrust; Black Swan; Network; Public Opinion; President

JEL Classification: F29

Acknowledgements and Funding: The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Contribution: The authors contributed equally to this work.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V176-01

References

  1. Kupchyshyna, Yu., & Davydyuk, Yu. (2017) From defamiliarization to foregrounding and defeated expectancy: linguo-stylistic and cognitive sketch. Lege Artis, 2(2), 149-184.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/lart-2017-0015
  2. Davydyuk, Yu. (2013). Mental spaces and conceptual integration networks. (linguo-cognitive approach to O. Henry´s short stories). In Ferenčík, M., Bednárová-Gibová, K., (Eds.) Language, Literature and Culture in a Changing Transatlantic World II (Part I: Linguistics, Translation And Cultural Studies). Prešov: Prešovská univerzita v Prešove.
    Retrieved fwrom https://www.pulib.sk/web/kniznica/elpub/dokument/Ferencik3
  3. Fauconnier, G. (1994). Mental Spaces. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  4. Lakoff, G. (1987). Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: What Categories Reveal about the Mind. Chicago: University of Chicago, XVII.
  5. Harari, Y. N. (2015). Sapiens. A Brief History of Humankind. (1st edition). New York: Harper.
  6. Bashkeieva, E. N. (2015). The structure of mental elements as the driving factor of «mental revolutions». Black Sea Scientific Journal of Academic Research, 21(3), 23-28 (in Russ.).
  7. Ishchenko, I. V. (2015). Political institutions in an unstable environment: functional features. Monograph. Dnipropetrovsk: Innovatsiia (in Ukr.).
  8. Evans, A., & Krueger, J. (2009). The Psychology (and Economics) of Trust. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 6(3), 1003-1017.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00232.x
  9. Shelton, J. T. (2017). Diagnosing Europe: Greece, Macedonia, and the Meaning of Crisis. New Perspectives, 25(2), 17-58.
  10. Bohigues, A. (2018). The Support for Democracy in Latin America’s Parliaments: An Analysis of the Ambivalent Democrat. Revista de Ciencia Politica, 38(1), 51-82.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-090×2018000100051 ­(in Spanish)
  11. Drozdov, O. Yu. (2014) Psychosemantic features of geopolitical mental maps of the world of youth from different regions of Ukraine. Naukovyi visnik Hersonskoho derzhavnoho universietu. Seriia: Psyholohichni nauky (Scientific Herald of Herson State University. Series: Psychology), 1(2), 33-39 (in Ukr.).
  12. Taleb, N. N. (2010). The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable (2nd edition) New York: Random House.
  13. Zernetska, O. V. (2010). The means of communication influence on civilization development.
    Retrieved from http://ir.kneu.edu.ua/bitstream/handle/2010/27438/PS_1_4.pdf?sequence=1 (in Ukr.)
  14. Morrison, D. G., & Stevenson, H. M. (1972). Integration and instability: Patterns of African political development. American Political Science Review, 66(3), 902-927.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/1957486
  15. Gurr, T. A. (1968). A causal model of civil strife: A comparative analysis using new indices. American Political Science Review, 62(4), 1104-1124.
    doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/1953907
  16. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The People’s Republic of China (2019). Wang Yi: China-Latin America Cooperation Is Neither Targeted at nor Affected by Any Third Party.
    Retrieved from https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1684460.shtml
  17. Hrynkevych, O. (2017). Politics of internationalization and the rise of cross-border higher education: international experiences in Poland. In: S. Matkovskyy and M. Cierpiał-Wolan (Eds.), Socio-economic potential of cross-border cooperation. International collective monograph. Lviv: Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Ukraine); University of Rzeszow (Poland).
  18. Soskin, O. I. (2012). Model of natіonal capіtalіsm: sustaіnabіlіty and adaptabіlіty to any challenges (Austrian case). Aktualni problemy ekonomiky (Actual Problems of Economics), 132(6), 16-29 (in Ukr.).
  19. Strauss, W., & Howe, N. (1991). Generations: the History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069. New York.
    Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/183651.Generations
  20. Dutton, W. (2017). Fake news, echo chambers and filter bubbles: Underresearched and overhyped. Ann Arbor: Michigan State University.
    Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/fake-news-echo-chambers-and-filter-bubbles-underresearched-and-overhyped-76688
  21. The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (2018, November 1 – December 4). Perception of the problems and reforms. A Survey.
    Retrieved from https://dif.org.ua/uploads/pdf/229161305cdabd62a68d20.56957376.pdf (in Ukr.)
  22. Socis (2019, February 22). A Survey: 57% of Ukrainians support entry into the EU, 44% – for joining NATO. The European Truth Newspaper.
    Retrieved from https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2019/02/22/7093201/ (in Ukr.)
  23. Kachka, T. (2018, December,14). Association Council and joyless European integration. The Zerkalo Nedeli Newspaper.
    Retrieved from https://zn.ua/international/sovet-associacii-i-bezradostnaya-evrointegraciya-303194_.html (in Russ.)
  24. Volkonskaia, I. (2019, February 1). Foreign direct investment declined in the economy of Ukraine by 7.7%. GolosUA.
    Retrieved from https://golos.ua/nocache/662501 (in Russ.)
  25. Research & Branding Group (2017, July 20). A Survey: Two thirds of Ukrainians have never been abroad. TSN News.
    Retrieved from https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/dvi-tretini-ukrayinciv-nikoli-ne-buli-za-kordonom-opituvannya-964217.html (in Ukr.)
  26. The Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (2016, November 25). How do Ukrainians understand European integration: expectations and mood of society. A Survey.
    Retrieved from https://dif.org.ua/article/yak-ukraintsi-rozumiyut-evrointegratsiyu-ochikuvannya-ta-nastroi-suspilstva (in Ukr.)
  27. The Razumkov Center (2019, March 27). The level of trust in public institutions and electoral orientations of citizens Ukraine. A Survey.
    Retrieved from http://razumkov.org.ua/napriamky/sotsiologichni-doslidzhennia/riven-doviry-do-suspilnykh-instytutiv-ta-elektoralni-oriientatsii-gromadian-ukrainy-2 (in Ukr.)
  28. Knyazeva, E. N., & Kurdyumov, S. P. (2011). Synergetics: nonlinearity of time and landscapes of co-evolution. Moscow: KomKniga (in Russ.).

Received 20.03.2019
Received in revised form 20.04.2019
Accepted 24.04.2019
Available online 20.08.2019

View Full-TextDownload PDF
In, , , , , , , , , , , ,

More Papers