Modification of the state policy of preserving the national identity of the foreigners of Ukrainian origin

Abstract

The foreigner of Ukrainian origin (Ukrainian diaspora, autochthonous Ukrainians, Ukrainians with the status of a foreigner of Ukrainian origin, labor and educational migrants, and their family members) are an important demographic, intellectual, socio-cultural, and informational resource of the country. The tectonic shifts that have been taking place recently, especially after the start of Russia's war against Ukraine in 2014, lead to significant changes in the process of forming the composition and structure of the foreigners of Ukrainian origin, not only as an ethnic, but also as a national-civic phenomenon. Considering the fact that in the conditions of the full-scale attack of the Russian Federation on Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians were forced to go abroad and integrate into the societies of the host countries, there is a threat of their assimilation, and thus the loss of Ukrainian national identity. The latest trends of a drastic increase in the number of refugees from Ukraine (here we are talking about millions of citizens and stateless persons) and the likely transition of some of them to the category of foreigners of Ukrainian origin require a serious rethinking of the ways and mechanisms of preserving their national identity. It is also important to take into account the correct approach in the combination of ethnic and national-civic in the process of improving state policy regarding foreigners of Ukrainian origin. A deep and systematic rethinking of the main approaches and tasks of interaction with the foreigners of Ukrainian origin and the development of an optimal balance between ethnic and national-civil in the process of preventing the assimilation of the foreigners of Ukrainian origin and preserving their stable connection with Ukraine is necessary. The article analyzes the main factors affecting the formation of Ukrainian identity and processes that can lead to assimilation, and also identifies the latest trends, problems and offers solutions to issues related to the preservation of the national identity of foreigners of Ukrainian origin.