Factors of Ethnic Politicization in the Context of Threats to National Security in Ukraine

Abstract

Ethnic mosaicism of Ukraine and the ethnonational factor are the phenomena that affect all spheres of the society. The ethnic factor has a special role in the emergence of contradictions in polyethnic states. On the one hand, “ethnicity is a form of social organization of cultural differences” (F. Bart), and on the other, ethnicity is instrumental and can be used as a means to achieve political goals (A. Cohen). Ethnicity has been and is a political resource that has been played out by political players for centuries. An important political phenomenon of our time is politicized ethnicity. The article analyzes some factors of politicization of ethnicity. The factors of politicization of ethnicity were: dissemination of unreliable information about the radical demands of territorial autonomy on behalf of “national minorities”; the destructive role of politicians who positioned themselves as lobbyists for the interests of national minorities; ethnic entrepreneurship, ethnic political parties; presence of dual citizenship, fake news, false information, and more. It is proved that certain factors of politicization of ethnicity pose a threat to the national security of the country.It is determined that ethnic identity is an effective tool for both consolidation and deconsolidation of ethnic groups and has its own political subjectivity. It is proved that in the process of decentralization, representatives of all ethnonational communities perceive each other well, and conflicts on ethnic grounds do not arise. However, due to people's low awareness of the peculiarities and prospects of the local government reform, politicians, especially local ones, are playing the “ethnic card” in their own interests.