THE ROLE OF THE UKRAINIAN MENTALITY IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION THE DECENTRALIZATION REFORM IN UKRAINE

Abstract

Before the implementation of the decentralization reform in Ukraine the mood of the citizens was pessimistic about the real changes in the Ukrainian village, because of some historical factors. The influence of the Soviet Union on the formation of the Ukrainian mentality left some negative consequences. Due to the territorial location of Ukraine between the European Union and Russia, Ukrainians have specific mental features that can help to implement the decentralization reform in Ukraine and hinder its implementation. The article analyzes the difference between concepts of mentality. It is investigated that the negative features of Ukrainian mentality are lack of faith in improving life on their own, hope for the state, certain fictitiousness, demonstrability in work, and not focus on the result. These traits can hinder the development of territorial communities. Also, there are many positive features of the Ukrainian mentality that can help in the process of activating citizens. The main goal of the decentralization reform is to change the mentality of Ukrainian citizens, because thanks to the changes in local government that have taken place in Ukraine since 2014, people have felt that they can influence on the development of their communities. This reform is the impetus for the implementation of the rest of the reforms, in particular in the medical, education, and tax fields. There are many examples in united territorial communities where many projects are implemented by changing the minds of the residents, their activity. So, the research of the features of Ukrainian mentality is very important and not only in the context of local self-government but also in the context of public administration as a whole. «Who knows the enemy and himself, never loses the war; who does not know the enemy but knows himself, sometimes he wins and sometimes he loses; who knows neither himself nor the enemy loses every battle» – Sun Tzu writes in his book The Art of War. That is why knowledge of the Ukrainian mentality will help Ukrainians maintain themselves and their identities and save the country from external aggression.