Рецензія на монографію «FOREIGN POLICY OF UKRAINE», CHEKALENKO LYUDMYLA D. - 13 Листопада 2017 - Блог

This monograph by prof. Chekalenko L.D. “Foreign policy of Ukraine” is devoted to the foundation and development of the foreign policy activity of Ukraine. The author examines the stages of this process, main directions and tasks of the Ukrainian state in the foreign policy field, analyzes mechanisms of protection of the rights of the citizens, sovereign existence of the state, as well as economic growth.

Honored Scientist of Ukraine, economic advisor to the Ukrainian government, full member of the Club of Rome, long-time director of Switzerland’s International Management Institute Bohdan Hawrylyshyn wrote a Foreword of this book:

“Ukraine has won its European identity through its heroic actions, history and individuals. The European identity of Ukraine opens doors to the future – a wide range of possibilities for economic development, social and intellectual progress, as well as the strengthening of our positions in the system of international coordinates. European integration, as chosen by Ukraine, is viewed as a key priority of our foreign policy and our strategic goals.

The policies of modern Ukraine are based on the principles of international law, human rights protection, as well as European values of dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, law and solidarity.

The aspiration of Ukraine to be fully integrated into European institutions, as stated in a number of Ukrainian government documents, is construed as a practical support for a stable and unified Europe. It is a strategic task for the Ukrainian state to actively participate in the process of the formation of a European economic and political space, a space of freedom, security and justice.

Professor Lyudmyla D. Chekalenko[2] introduces the readers to her vision of the turbulent events of the history and modern developments of Ukraine, as well as directs their attention to the challenges for Ukrainian security that call forth the European choice of Ukraine.

I have no doubt that this book will be of benefit to all people who care about our future, true patriots of Ukraine, and all those who strive to build the Ukrainian state in order for it to be worthy of its history and its European future”.

The manual is based on a principally important concept of the formation and development of the foreign policy paradigm of Ukraine during a significant historical period of Ukrainian statehood. Our state, same as its policy, originates from the Trypillya culture, develops through the Skiff era and forms a powerful Kyievan Rus. This is in those times that not only the general concept of the world and human existence but also the principles of the international existence, patriotism, humanism, tolerance, conventional relations and diplomacy were formed on our lands. Next period that covers the times of Cossack State contains a lot of elements of the statehood and foreign policy activity of those times that was inherited and developed by the Cossack Army. The period of the years 1917–1920 is marked by the struggle for the independence of the Ukrainian state, civilized entrance into the world of international relations, use of diplomatic means and methods to defend the Ukrainian interests. In the period of Soviet existence the forms of international existence of Ukraine within the USSR are being under review. In modern times with the achievement of the state sovereignty the foreign policy components of the assertion of Ukraine as a subject of the international law with the state goals, its own foreign policy and international obligations are being analyzed.

The modern Ukraine faces a difficult challenge of protection of the suvarenity of the Ukrainian people, gaining by our country of a dissent place in the international division of labor, protection of the rights of the Ukrainian citizens, informational provision of the sovereign existence, etc. State interests of Ukraine consist in realization of the strategic, political, economic, legal and ideological goals. Every historic period of the development of the Ukrainian statehood is marked by a specific position of Ukraine or its regions that existed either comparatively independently or within other states. Unfortunately, Ukraine was more often not a subject but object of the foreign policy in the above mentioned periods when the destiny of the Ukrainian lands depended on other more powerful nations.

Ukraine gained its independence in a lengthy struggle and affirmed itself as a highly authoritative state worth of respect.

The book is based on a wide range of sources on formation of the state and foreign policy of Ukraine, archive documents, documents of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and periodical materials. Historical sources, such as chronicles, legends and folklore, were also studied to be included in the text. A particular place in the list of the sources belongs to the Ukrainian historiography. This is the books of famous Ukrainian historians – M. Hrushevsky, V. Antonovych, O. Apanovych, M.Braychevsky, V. Holobutsky, D. Doroshenko, O.Yefymenko, M. Kotliar, I. Krypyakevych, N. Polonska-Vasylenko, O. Subtelny, O. Shulhin, D. Yavornytsky and many others.

The manual will be of interest for students, high school pupils, professors of educational institutions, as well as all the not indifferent citizens of Ukraine.

[1] LYUDMYLA D. CHEKALENKO. THE FOREIGN POLICY OF UKRAINE: scientific monograph, eng., Kyiv, LAT&K, 2016. 294 p., 8 p. pic.

[2] Lyudmyla D. Chekalenko is a political scientist, author of 350 scientific publications on the foreign policy of Ukraine, international relations and diplomacy. The publications of the author are characterized by objectivity, professionalism, profundity of research and novelty.

Professor Lyudmyla Chekalenko is a Chair of the Department of foreign policy and diplomacy of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the Ministry for foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Honored worker of Science and Technology, Doctor of Political Science, diplomat.