Visnyk of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series Sociological studies of contemporary society: methodology, theory, methods

Max Weber and Émile Durkheim during the First World War: Common Challenges and the Evolution of Ideas

Oleksandr Zubarev — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents a comparative analysis of the impact of the First World War on the lives and intellectual trajectories of two classics of sociology—Émile Durkheim and Max Weber—who found themselves on opposite sides both of the methodological divide between realism and nominalism and of the military front as citizens of rival states. The author seeks to determine how the First World War affected their theoretical positions, civic stances, and directions of scholarly activity, drawing on a biographical approach to the study of the history of sociology. It is demonstrated that Durkheim and Weber were actively, though in different ways, involved in the events of the First World War. Durkheim participated in the so-called “war for law,” engaged in the study and documentation of the war, and published texts aimed against German propaganda. The article describes how Weber, in turn, voluntarily enlisted and served for more than a year as a member of a commission responsible for organizing military hospitals in Heidelberg, and how, after demobilization, he became actively involved in public and political debates concerning Germany’s future. At the same time, it is argued that the war did not lead to a radical revision of their theoretical foundations, although it did significantly influence the thematic focus of their wartime publications. Durkheim interpreted the war as a manifestation of regression toward mechanical solidarity associated with authoritarian statehood, whereas Weber gradually shifted from supporting Germany’s war effort to criticizing expansionism, militarism, and Bismarck’s project of the nation-state, while advocating the principles of democracy and parliamentarism. The article substantiates the thesis that the biographical approach to the study of the history of sociology allows for a deeper understanding of classical sociological concepts by revealing the interconnections between ideas, biographical experience, and historical context, and therefore continues to retain its heuristic potential.

The Role of Social Capital in the Formation and Implementation of Career Strategies of Personnel

Viktor Kuzmin — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article is devoted to the study of the role of social capital in the formation and implementation of personnel career strategies in modern organizations. The author reviews such concepts as network resources, trust, norms of interaction, professional environment and institutional support mechanisms that determine the possibilities of professional advancement. The article puts forward arguments that social capital functions as a multidimensional resource that not only complements human capital, but also determines access to information, opportunities and tools for career development. The author argues that the formation of social capital is ensured by a combination of individual efforts (accumulation of competencies, development of communication skills), interaction in professional networks and the influence of the organizational environment. The research methodology combines theoretical analysis of scientific approaches with empirical data obtained as a result of surveys and in-depth interviews with employees of various industries. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the author’s proposed operationalization of social capital, which structures its impact on a career through three interrelated components – resource, environmental and performance – and demonstrates their practical dimension in real career trajectories of employees. The main results of the study include: identifying key factors for the accumulation of social capital (participation in professional communities, trust, network connections, supportive environment); identifying barriers (low level of trust, weak institutional mechanisms, conflict in teams); developing practical recommendations for integrating social capital into the career strategies of employees and organizations. The approaches used made it possible to establish that it is the level of social capital that determines differences in career opportunities, access to resources and the effectiveness of professional activities. The practical conclusions of the study can be used by managers, HR specialists and the staff themselves to build effective career growth trajectories.

Theoretical and methodological features of mass media research: heuristics of structural, behavioral and cultural approaches

Vadym Nikolenko — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article details D. McQuail's typology, which offers three scientific approaches to the study of mass communication and mass media, namely structural, behavioral and cultural approaches. It is emphasized that the structural approach is used mainly to analyze the impact of mass media on the system-forming components of society, as well as on a global scale. The behavioral approach involves taking into account the methodological principle (stimulus-response) and its not always linear nature in the processes of dissemination and perception of mass information. Within its framework, attention is primarily paid to the socio-psychological and emotional states of a certain individual or social groups. It is noted that representatives of the cultural approach focus primarily on the socio-cultural context of the impact of mass media on the audience, as well as algorithms for reproducing a certain social order and cultural values. The characteristic features of the history of the development of mass media, in particular radio and television, are emphasized. In view of this, in accordance with the theory of the “magic bullet or needle for injections”, a detailed description of relevant examples of media influence on the mass audience is proposed. Changes in the understanding of mass media during the 20th century are highlighted, taking into account the research of G. Lasswell, P. Lazarsfeld, M. McLuhan, D. McQuail and D. Carey. Such changes are characterized initially (20-30s of the 20th century) by the use of behavioral and functional approaches and later by the recognition of an increasingly nuanced, culturally oriented, not always linear perception of information content by recipients. A number of modern theories on the study of mass communication are highlighted: cultivation, stereotyping, cognitive dissonance, strengthening the status quo, catharsis, social responsibility, etc. The existing transformation of information content consumption against the background of the mediatization of society in the digital age is highlighted as a universal trend: from the popularity of modern media to the constantly growing level of use of new / newest / digital media.

Contemporary Ukrainian Art Under the Pressure of Commercialization (Based on Content Analysis)

Alexander Golikov, Stanislav Kravchenko — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents a sociological analysis of the processes of commercialization (commodification) of contemporary Ukrainian musical culture in the context of globalization, digitalization, and the challenges of wartime. The theoretical framework of the study is built on a synthesis of critical theory of society: J. Baudrillard's concepts of simulacrum and hyperreality, G. Ritzer's theory of “McDonaldization”, the ideas of the Frankfurt School (T. Adorno, G. Marcuse), and the critique of the society of the spectacle (G. Debord). The authors postulate the presence of a structural dichotomy in the Ukrainian musical field, where one pole ("popular") operates according to the logic of market success, standardization, and adaptation to the algorithms of digital platforms, while the other ("alternative") strives to maintain authenticity and a critical function at the cost of marginality. An empirical test of the hypothesis was conducted using a content analysis of song lyrics by popular (DOROFEEVA, Artem Pivovarov, “Okean Elzy”) and alternative (“Blooms Corda”, “Palindrom”) artists. The results confirmed the dichotomy: the lyrics of commercially successful artists are dominated by simplified emotional themes (love, experiences), trendy social media vocabulary, and minimal use of complex metaphors, indicating a focus on predictability and ease of consumption. Meanwhile, the work of alternative artists is characterized by reflective themes (inner search, social criticism), greater linguistic density, and specific imagery, indicating a priority for authenticity. The study revealed a correlation between high digital success rates and signs of “McDonaldization” of creativity. The conclusions outline the limitations of the study (limited sample, focus primarily on textual content) and prospects for further research: expanding the methodology, studying the influence of streaming platform algorithms and the AI, and analyzing the transformation of musical culture in wartime. This article contributes to our understanding of the specific pressures of commercialization on contemporary Ukrainian art and the mechanisms behind the formation of cultural dichotomies.

Artistic practices in the Era of Digitalization: Analysis of the Experience of Modern Art Studios

Kateryna Donskova, Vira Kutyrоva — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformations of modern artistic practices under the influence of digitalization as a determining factor of socio-cultural changes. It is substantiated that the digital revolution caused a shift from the priority of the material artistic object to processuality, network interaction and participation, as a result of which art appears as a dynamic communicative system. It is emphasized that the theoretical framework of the study was formed on the basis of the theory of social fields and capitals of Pierre Bourdieu and the theory of art of Ron Ayerman, which made it possible to reveal the mechanisms of redistribution of the symbolic status of the artist in the digital environment, as well as with the application of the work of modern Ukrainian researchers in this field. The specifics of digital and post-digital art, which are characterized by openness, interactivity, hybridity of physical and virtual space, temporality, and multiplicity of forms of representation, are analyzed. It is emphasized that the growing role of multisensory experience, physicality and affective involvement of the audience forms new models of perception and evaluation of artistic practices. It is emphasized that digital technologies expand the possibilities of creative self-realization, democratize access to cultural production and create prerequisites for artistic activism, but actualize the risks of devaluation of professional criteria, blurring of authorship and lead to a decrease in expertise.It is noted that the empirical basis of the research is expert interviews with artists and art historians, who have testified an ambivalent attitude towards the use of digital tools in art and art education: they are recognized as a powerful resource for communication and popularization of art, but are not considered as a full-fledged alternative to academic education and direct "master-student" interaction. The conclusions emphasize that contemporary art is increasingly marked by the intensity of social connections, temporality and network logic of cultural production. Digitalization appears not only as a tool, but also as an environment for the formation of new cultural strategies that require further theoretical and empirical understanding.

Institutionalization of Memory in Ukraine in the Conditions of War: Sociological Reflection

Yaroslav Yablonskyi — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article examines the institutionalization of memory in Ukraine during wartime through the case of the Law of Ukraine “On the Fundamentals of the State Policy of National Memory” (2025). The object of analysis is understood not only as a legislative act, but also as a social artifact and a socio-political technology for shaping the national canon, integrating normative, narrative, value-based, and spatial dimensions. The theoretical framework draws on the approaches of M. Halbwachs, J. and A. Assmann, P. Nora, P. Connerton, and J. Olick, which enable an interpretation of the law through the lens of classical concepts of collective memory. The author aims to clarify the sociocultural significance of the law and its role in consolidating collective narratives and norms. Methodologically, the study employs a case study approach based on the analysis of a normative document. Discursive and qualitative document analysis are applied to relate the legal provisions to classical memory theories and to compare the Ukrainian case with the legislation of Poland and Russia. The author argues that the 2025 Law systematizes previous stages in the development of Ukrainian memory policy (decommunization and de-russification processes) and marks a transition from fragmented interventions to the formation of a comprehensive strategy in the field of memory policy. The new framework of memory consolidates a narrative of struggle and resistance, the remembrance of victims of totalitarian regimes, and the values of freedom and dignity, meanwhile providing an institutional definition of “sites of memory” and commemorative practices. The article offers a sociological interpretation of the Law as a case of normative institutionalization of memory in Ukraine, opening prospects for further research in cultural memory studies. The study is conceived as a foundation for the development of state memory strategies and educational and cultural programs aimed at societal consolidation. It also contributes to expanding the role and significance of the sociology of memory in understanding post-Soviet and postcolonial contexts.

The Phenomenon of Ukrainian Resilience

Oleksii Antypovych, Черниш Chernysh, Roman Borysov, Martha Boretska — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents an initial conceptualization of the phenomenon of Ukrainian resilience within the framework of social systemology and the theory of non-additive society, followed by an empirical verification of the proposed theoretical assumptions. Resilience is defined as a systemic, multilevel formation characterized by an organic integration of cognitive and behavioral components inherent both to society as a whole and to specific social groups. It is oriented toward countering external aggression, possesses the potential for sustained and effective resistance, and demonstrates both the stability of the social system and its capacity for renewal. This formation is regarded as a central characteristic of contemporary Ukrainian society under the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, one that ensures the emergence of a new quality of social life in all its manifestations. This conceptualization also determines the specificity of the sociological approach to the interpretation of resilience, as compared to the natural sciences and other social sciences and humanities. Accordingly, the conceptual and categorical framework is refined, with particular attention paid to the diverse uses of the terms social resilience and resilience as synonyms in Ukrainian- and English-language academic literature. A clear distinction is also drawn between the concepts of resilience and resistance. The article further advances a set of arguments in support of the proposition concerning the agents / subjects of resilience, which, within sociology, can be productively examined across all four levels of sociological analysis – mega-, macro-, meso-, and micro-levels. On this basis, the choice of the following subjects as key agents of resilience is substantiated: (a) Ukrainian society as a whole and large social formations (macro-level), and (b) the social group of volunteers (meso-level). Three substantive areas of analysis of resilience under the conditions of the ongoing war are identified: the formation of the Ukrainian political nation, and the emergence of a new quality of civil society and social capital. These and other theoretical assumptions were incorporated into the formulation of working hypotheses for the empirical study, with the aim of their verification and further operationalization into specific indicators, as well as the subsequent construction of a cumulative index of (social) resilience. These indicators were included in the survey questionnaire of the sociological study of the phenomenon of Ukrainian resilience, which made it possible to construct a generalized resilience index for Ukrainians as of July 2025 and to compare it with the resilience indicators of the social group of volunteers. The conclusions present the overall findings of this comprehensive study and outline directions for the further improvement of research procedures.

The Role of National Feminsm in the Formation of Ukrainian Civic Identity

Anastasiia Molotsiian — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article provides a theoretical analysis of the role of national feminism in shaping the civic identity of Ukrainian residents; it substantiates the feasibility of applying a nationally and civically oriented feminist approach to the Ukrainian context. The author's distinct approach to conceptualizing Ukrainian feminism as "civic" is outlined, taking into account its historically determined characteristics as "national feminism" and "pragmatic feminism" (Martha Bohachevsky-Chomiak). National feminism is defined as a form of state-building feminism, in which a woman's right to self-determination is identical to the nation's right to sovereignty, and the struggle for gender equality is historically and practically inseparable from national liberation processes and the consolidation of statehood. Pragmatic feminism, according to Martha Bohachevsky-Chomiak's concept, is defined as an approach oriented toward achieving specific social and institutional changes, within which gender equality is viewed not as an ideological goal, but as a prerequisite for women's effective participation in civic life. The contemporary Ukrainian women's movement is interpreted by the author in terms of Michael Billig's "banal nationalism" as "banal civic feminism," which manifests itself in the practices of everyday civic participation (volunteering, financial support of the Ukrainian army, service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine). It is demonstrated that the appeal to Ukraine's inherent national feminism in its civic dimension has become instrumental evidence of the simultaneous development of the feminist movement and the strengthening of national resilience through women's participation in public life. Potential directions for further research on the chosen problematics are identified.

Value Preferences of Ukrainian Senior Grade Students in War Conditions: Common and Different in the Regional Dimension

Liudmyla Sokurianska, Viktoriia Bieliaieva — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article analyzes the value preferences of Ukrainian high school students in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The authors propose their own definitions of the concepts “value preferences” (a hierarchically structured system of an individual’s life priorities, that is, a system of existential values and value priorities across all spheres of activity — professional, civic, political, family and domestic, educational, leisure, etc.) and “Ukrainian political nation” (a community of citizens of the Ukrainian state of all nationalities, linguistic and religious preferences, united by shared values, political interests, patriotic attitudes, respect for the history and culture of Ukraine, its state symbols, and a willingness to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country). The article presents the results of the nationwide sociological study “High School Student – 2024: Life and Educational-Professional Plans of Ukrainian High School Students in Wartime,” conducted at the initiative of the Sociological Association of Ukraine by researchers of the Department of Sociology of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Sociology and Media Communications at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University during October–November 2024. The study examines Ukrainian high school students’ orientations toward terminal and instrumental values, their educational and professional plans after completing secondary education, assessments of the prestige and attractiveness of various professions, motivation for obtaining higher education, professional choice, civic identity, and related issues. The authors conclude that the high level of civic identity and the recorded unity of value preferences among Ukrainian high school students across different spheres of their life activity, combined with the absence of significant interregional differences in these indicators, provide grounds to speak about the active formation of the Ukrainian political nation at the mesosocial level of this process.