Legal and Sociocultural Foundations of the Transformation of Ukrainian National and Civic Identity in the Conditions of Post-War Reconstruction
Abstract
Abstract. The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the legal and socio-cultural mechanisms of the transformation of Ukrainian national and civic identity in the context of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. Based on the analysis of current normative legal acts and sociological data, the study examines how the full-scale Russian aggression accelerated the processes of national consolidation, overcoming regional and linguistic divisions, and the establishment of European identity. The authors substantiate that post-war reconstruction should not be limited to the physical restoration of infrastructure, economy, and cities, but must also constitute a profound socio-cultural transformation aimed at strengthening national unity, restoring historical memory, overcoming postcolonial traumas, and forming a resilient identity of the "victorious nation". Particular attention is paid to the role of special legislation in ensuring the "cognitive de-occupation" of de-occupied territories, the integration of indigenous peoples (in particular, Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks), the development of creative industries, and the people-centered approach to reconstruction ("Build Back Better"). The article explores how the Orange Revolution, the Revolution of Dignity, and Russian aggression that began in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022 radically accelerated the processes of national consolidation, the overcoming of regional and linguistic cleavages, the affirmation of European identity, and the formation of an inclusive political nation. The authors prove that the effective implementation of the existing normative legal framework, combined with the active participation of civil society, veterans’ communities, and international partners, will make it possible to transform the experience of war into the foundation of a new Ukrainian identity – consolidated, inclusive, and European-oriented – capable of ensuring the long-term resilience of the state in the face of contemporary hybrid challenges.
Keywords: Ukrainian identity; post-war reconstruction; national security; decommunization; European integration; cultural policy; civic consciousness.
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