Paternalism in the Political Conscious of Ukrainians: Characteristic Signs and Probable Causes

Abstract

Article is devoted to analyses of manifestations of paternalism in the political consciousness of Ukrainian society. Political consciousness is defined as a totality of stable ideas, beliefs, values, traditions, orientations, which reflect the reaction of people on the political life. Paternalism is considered as a state of value consciousness, which manifests itself in two dimensions: the attitude of individual to his/her role in the socio-political system and the attitude of individual to this system. Empirical data have revealed that citizens increasingly rely on government than on themselves in achieving of individual success; most of them do not feel responsible for the state of affairs in country and his/her location, not willing to show private initiative. Market and socialist values coexist in the public consciousness at the level of individual’s attitude to the system.