INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “TRANSFORMATIVE PROCESSES OF SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN EDUCATION IN MODERN UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF WAR: CHALLENGES, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS”
On June 20–22, 2024, the II International Scientific and Practical Conference “Transformative Processes of Social and Humanitarian Education in Modern Ukraine in the Conditions of War: Challenges, Problems and Prospects” was held, which brought together 188 scientists from Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and the USA. The organizer of the conference was the Faculty of Social and Humanities of the West Ukrainian National University. Co-organizers are eight foreign institutions of higher education.
The member of the scientific committee of the conference was the Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Tetyana Bevz – chief researcher of the Department of Theory and History of Political Science of our Institute. She spoke at the plenary session with the report “Identity and stability of Ukrainian society in the conditions of war: dynamics, influences and prospects”.
Tetyana Bevz is performing
The speaker noted that with the beginning of a full-scale war caused by Russia’s armed aggression, the national identity of Ukrainians became an important source of social stability. The existential threat contributed to strengthening the sense of civic belonging among different ethnic, linguistic and regional groups. Ukraine demonstrated resilience as its citizens, defense forces, government and residents of occupied towns and villages united against the invasion. This resilience grows out of a previously formed strong national self-perception, where belonging to the Motherland prevails over ethnic or linguistic differences. Language, history and culture are key markers of identity. And also – the stability of the Ukrainian people. Ukrainians have proven that they are a stress-resistant nation. The resilience of Ukrainians in the war with the Russian Federation inspires the whole world.
During the conference
The initiative of representatives of Ukrainian civil society “National Platform of Sustainability and Cohesion”, the speaker noted, identified five factors that underlie Ukrainian sustainability: self-organization in all its forms; self-defense; social cohesion; values - inner freedom and human dignity, as red lines that cannot be crossed – and total creativity, innovation.
Tetyana Bevz emphasized that stability is manifested in 1) a common goal – victory in the war; 2) faith in Victory (confidence in it is unchanging); 3) the system of values, which is aimed at preserving a dignified life (81% of Ukrainians noted that the greatest value for them is life, 79% – dignity); 4) a strong support network in the community; 5) trust in the authorities; 6) respect for one’s culture and the culture of others; 6) in the ability to cope with life’s challenges (under conditions of war, Ukrainians study, look for new ways to support their own business, make plans); 7) change in language preferences (Ukrainians abandon Russian in favor of the Ukrainian language as a symbol of resistance); 8) democracy and freedom. Further development of democracy is an important factor in the sustainability formula.
The report aroused the lively interest of the participants of the event, and received many favorable reviews.