The concept of "Europe" in Ukrainian public discourse at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century

Abstract

The article analyzes the conceptual features of the European phenomenon that formed in Ukrainian public discourse at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century. The purpose of the article is to determine the content of the concept of "Europe" that was in Ukrainian public discourse at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, when the civilizational choice of Ukrainians received a new impetus for realization through the decision of the European Council to begin negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The main research method is conceptual analysis, which involves studying various substrate mental units – representations, scenarios, and gestalts associated with the phenomenon of Europe in the collective consciousness of Ukrainian society. Additionally, the method of discourse analysis is applied at the stage of processing the mass media objectification of the concept of "Europe". Results. The following conceptual features have been identified: Europe as a space for the comprehensive realization of the individual; well-being and freedom as fundamental civilizational principles aspired to by Ukrainian society; democracy built on the rule of law and respect for individuals; partnership relations among all states and nations without domination by the stronger; unity of diverse cultures; civilizational choice for progress into the future; an influencing factor on Ukraine; a state of crisis associated with the weaknesses of liberal democracy on the one hand, and the dominance of consumer interests in European societies on the other; and the vulnerability of the political system to hybrid expansion by totalitarian and autocratic regimes. Conclusion. The analysis of the verbal explication of the conceptual features of the phenomenon of Europe in Ukrainian public discourse leads to the conclusion that the content of the studied linguistic construct in the collective consciousness of Ukrainians at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century is formed by the following main frames: institutional Eurocentrism with the system-forming role of the European Union, civilizational values, socio-cultural unity of diversity, production culture, and Eurointegration aspirations as a path to the future.