MYTH AS MEANS OF REGULATING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL RELATIONS IN CONTEXT OF INFORMATION WARFARE Cover Image

МІФ ЯК ЗАСІБ РЕГУЛЯЦІЇ СУСПІЛЬНО- ПОЛІТИЧНИХ ВІДНОСИН В УМОВАХ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНОЇ ВІЙНИ
MYTH AS MEANS OF REGULATING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL RELATIONS IN CONTEXT OF INFORMATION WARFARE

Author(s): Svitlana Vyktorivna Kutsepal
Subject(s): Military policy, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Національний юридичний університет імені Ярослава Мудрого
Keywords: myth; social and political myth; mythologization; information; information warfare;

Summary/Abstract: Problem setting. At the time when states and societies are undergoing significant social and political transformations, there is a substantial increase in the role and significance of a mythological component of the public awareness. Violent political, economic and state transformations, social and military conflicts, inability of adequate rational explanation of the social and political climate in the state and definition of future prospects for development, lack of developed national ideology are actualizing the tendency to mythologization of citizens ’public consciousness. Recent research and publications analysis. The problem of social and political mythologization, its use in manipulative technologies, role and meaning in functioning of the society is actively discussed in the political, sociological and philosophical discourse. Paper objective. The article is aimed at revealing the essence of the social and political myth and its modifications (stereotypes, «fake») and revealing their significance in manipulating Ukrainian citizens ’public consciousness in the context of information warfare. Paper main body. Crisis processes in the modern Ukrainian society, connected with hostilities in the East of the country, annexation of the Crimea, economic and social in-stability, existential uncertainty, loss of social guidelines and priorities, social disappointments of a significant part of people are determining the process of social and political mythologization. Under these conditions, there is an urgent necessity to define social functions of mythology which has a positive character consolidating the nation, awakening national and civic consciousness, nurturing the national identity and ensuring the historical and ideological connection of generations as well as negative one which manifests itself in hyper-trophied perception of the role of a separate political leader or certain political force, fueling interethnic hostility and active political manipulation. Political mythology plays a significant role in uniting the country’s population around a certain political force which does not always use the political energy of the public in the interests of the state and society. Under modern conditions, the mythologization process is impossible without use of mass media and Internet resources that have an impact on both citizen’s individual consciousness and public awareness. Conclusions of the research. Under conditions of social and political instability and military threat, Ukraine also suffers from information warfare that affects the strategy of the country’s foreign and domestic policy. In the circumstances, it is necessary to take into account the significance of social and political mythologization, use all the possibilities in order to direct its influence to maintain national interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.