Orientation towards Paternalism in the Political Culture of Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova

Abstract

The author examines some features of Belarusian, Ukrainian and Moldavian political cultures. It is suggested that in spite of institutional transformations and rejection of the policy of socialism public consciousness still retains strong values of the Soviet political system. The empirical analysis based on the international comparative studies has led to the conclusion that along with the market and democratic values the value of paternalism (citizens’ needs of state care) exists and sometimes dominates. The author considers that Ukrainians are mostly oriented towards state guardianship and protection, guaranteeing personal wealth by the state, i.e., economic paternalism, while Moldovans and Belarusians demonstrate paternalism in politics supporting strong leader power. It is assumed that the increase of civic engagement in Ukraine during the events of “Euromaydan” can lay down the foundations of civil political culture in Ukrainian society and have an effect on activating civil potential in the whole Eastern European Borderland (Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova).