Instituto de Estudios Políticos y Derecho Público "Dr. Humberto J. La Roche"
de la Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas de la Universidad del Zulia
Maracaibo, Venezuela
Esta publicación cientíca en formato digital es continuidad de la revista impresa
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Vol.41 N° 78
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Septiembre
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Recibido el 15/05/23 Aprabado el 02/07/23
ISSN 0798- 1406 ~ De pó si to le gal pp 198502ZU132
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ción, dis cu sión y con fron ta ción de las ideas y avan ces cien tí fi cos con com pro mi so so cial.
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avan ces o re sul ta dos de in ves ti ga ción en las áreas de Cien cia Po lí ti ca y De re cho Pú bli-
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Vol. 41, Nº 78 (2023), 384-399
IEPDP-Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas - LUZ
Armed violence in the system
of state image formation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46398/cuestpol.4178.27
Svitlana Vovk *
Liudmyla Novoskoltseva **
Olena Mezhenska ***
Ihor Zhurba ****
Fedir Khodko *****
Stephanie Brynchak ******
Abstract
The purpose of the article was to analyze the impact of armed
violence on shaping the image of democracy, the image of foreign
policy and the image of information policy of Ukraine. In the
context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, a real fact is the
transformation of Ukraine’s image in the perception of the world
during the processes of European integration. Methodologically,
dialectical, systematic, structural-functional, institutional, conictological,
political-cultural and axiological approaches were used in the study. It is
concluded that the denition of state image presents many variants, since
each scholar interprets this concept according to his or her subjective
experience. However, the study of the image of a state in the context of
international relations makes it possible to assume that the image of a state
may arise under the inuence of spontaneous (unconscious) factors, armed
violence, geopolitical position and other characteristics; as well as a result
of the selective inuence of the mass media. A positive image of the state
is formed through the proper functioning of three components: internal
image, foreign policy image and information image.
Keywords: armed conict; total war; state image; positioning in the
European space; political semiology.
* Doctor of Political Sciences, Head of Department of Political Science and Law, Luhansk Taras
Shevchenko National University, Poltava, Ukraine. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6171-
4782
** PhD in Political Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science and Law, Lugansk
National Taras Shevchenko University, Poltava, Ukraine. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-
1082-7979
*** PhD in Political Sciences. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1053-5020
**** Assistant of the Department of Philosophy and Sociology Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National
University, Poltava, Ukraine. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3067-2380
***** PhD Student of the Third Level of Higher Education Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University,
Poltava, Ukraine. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8015-2771
****** PhD Student of the Third Level of Higher Education Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University,
Poltava, Ukraine. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0461-4264
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La violencia armada en el sistema de formación de la
imagen del Estado
Resumen
El propósito del articulo fue analizar el impacto de la violencia armada
en la conguración de la imagen de la democracia, la imagen de la política
exterior y la imagen de la política de información de Ucrania. En el contexto
de la agresión de Rusia contra Ucrania, un hecho real es la transformación
de la imagen de Ucrania en la percepción del mundo durante los procesos
de integración europea. En lo metodologico se utilizaron en el estudio
los enfoques dialéctico, sistemático, estructural-funcional, institucional,
conictológico, político-cultural y axiológico. Se concluye que la denición
de imagen de Estado presenta muchas variantes, ya que cada estudioso
interpreta este concepto según su experiencia subjetiva. Sin embargo,
el estudio de la imagen de un Estado en el contexto de las relaciones
internacionales permite suponer que la imagen de un Estado puede surgir
bajo la inuencia de factores espontáneos (inconscientes), la violencia
armada, la posición geopolítica y otras características; así como resultado de
la inuencia selectiva de los medios de comunicación. Una imagen positiva
del Estado se forma mediante el buen funcionamiento de tres componentes:
imagen interna, imagen de política exterior e imagen informativa.
Palabras clave: conicto armado; guerra total; imagen del estado;
posicionamiento en el espacio europeo; semiología
política.
Introduction
In the context of European integration processes in Ukraine, the issue of
the importance of forming a positive image of the country while preserving
national identity and distinctive culture for the eective functioning of its
foreign policy interests has arisen. After the full-scale invasion on February
24, 2022, Ukraine’s foreign policy course towards the unication of the
European Union only intensied. On June 23, 2022, the European Council
granted Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership in the European
Union (Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 2023).
Accordingly, there is a need for the eective functioning of information
and communication tools to shape the state’s image. It is thanks to the
frequent news of a full-scale war in the media that Ukraine has become
the focus of discussion at the national and international levels. Today, an
important factor in shaping the country’s foreign policy image is building a
diplomatic strategy based on soft power rather than hard power. The former
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Svitlana Vovk, Liudmyla Novoskoltseva, Olena Mezhenska, Ihor Zhurba, Fedir Khodko y Stephanie Brynchak
Armed violence in the system of state image formation
does not involve the use of coercion, but the ability of the state to improve
its image in the European space through culture, values, and foreign policy.
On August 26, 2021, the Decree of the President of Ukraine No.
448/2021 “On the Strategy of Foreign Policy of Ukraine” (Decree of the
President of Ukraine No. 448/2021..., 2021) was enacted. According to this
document, we emphasise paragraphs 12 and 13, which guarantee the use
of soft power in public diplomacy to create a positive image of the state
and protect the rights of Ukrainian citizens, preserve national and cultural
identity outside the state. Burlaka et al. (2023) emphasize that public policy
should be exible, universal, and based on the principles of humanism and
social consciousness of citizens.
In the context of the armed conict that has been going on since 2014
and the martial law since 2022, the problem of armed violence, which is an
instrument of power of a non-democratic state, arises. The international
law categorically prohibits the use of armed violence, but there are cases
when a state exercises its defence right during aggression or acts in
accordance with a UN Security Council resolution. In times of war and war
crimes, there is an urgent need to develop the military law (Gorinov and
Mereniuk, 2022). Another problem is the absence of a separate legal system
for military personnel.
It mostly does not respond to threats to national security and defence
capabilities of the state. In European countries, such a legal system is
developing at a high level that indicates the awareness and guarantee of the
implementation of legal provisions on military security during hostilities
(Gorinov and Mereniuk, 2022). In the context of Russia’s aggression against
Ukraine, the study of armed violence in the system of state image formation
is an urgent task.
Ukraine’s image requires signicant transformations, as it is characterised
by an unstable economy, corrupt government, social insecurity of certain
groups of the population, and a long-term armed conict in eastern
Ukraine, where Ukraine has taken the position of a “victim”. However,
since the beginning of martial law in Ukraine, the European community’s
attitude toward our country has changed.
According to the “Report on the Perception of Ukraine in the World
in 2022” compiled by the NGO BRAND UKRAINE, 71% of respondents
supported Ukraine in the war. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has
shaped a favourable attitude toward our country, particularly, because of the
unity in society, the revival of Ukrainian culture, and national consciousness.
Many European countries have become an asylum for refugees. 66% of
respondents approved of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, which
is a record gure in the history of European integration processes (Brand
Ukraine, 2022).
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The purpose of this study is to analyse the formation of Ukraine’s image
in the context of armed violence. The realisation of this goal requires the
fullment of the following tasks: 1) to study the impact of armed violence on
the image of democracy of the state; 2) to analyse the foreign policy image
of the country during a full-scale war; 3) to nd out the role of the image of
information policy in the system of forming the image of the state.
1. Literature Review
Shaping the image is an important strategic task for the state. When
developing a unique image for long-term positive positioning, it is
important to develop the government, society, economy, and culture in an
interconnected manner. The topic of forming the image of the state in the
context of management and marketing aspects was studied by Musienko et
al. (2020). The researchers identied the key factors (economic freedom,
competitiveness, human development, and digitalisation) of the state
image formation through a comparative analysis of the brand in the world
rankings of developed and developing countries.
Raev and Minkman (2020) examined the concept of branding (state
image, policy image, and image of policy instruments) in diplomatic
relations. The authors concluded that branding is eective only if all
three images are developed. The concept of branding is an eective tool
in international communication, but not universal. Savon (2019) studied
the strengths (favourable geopolitical position) and weaknesses (war,
corruption, scandals) of Ukraine’s international image. The author
concluded that the image is inuenced not only by government ocials but
also by the citizens of Ukraine.
Kosheleva (2021) studied the image of the state in the cultural system.
The author concluded that an important condition for Ukraine’s eective
international positioning is the creation of a positive image to protect the
national interests of the state, to achieve the strategic goal of joining the
European Union, to be successfully competitive in the global sales and
investment market; to popularise Ukrainian traditions in European culture.
Lisovskyi (2022) in his study revealed the concept of “foreign policy
image” in the context of Ukraine’s national security. The author emphasised
that during a full-scale war, Ukraine’s image is dynamic and requires
constant foreign policy support and correction.
Horbachenko (2022) analysed the Decree of the President of Ukraine
No. 448/2021 “On the Strategy of Foreign Policy of Ukraine” (Decree of
the President of Ukraine No. 448/2021..., 2021). The main idea of this legal
document is to ratify Ukraine as a strong and authoritative state in Europe,
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Svitlana Vovk, Liudmyla Novoskoltseva, Olena Mezhenska, Ihor Zhurba, Fedir Khodko y Stephanie Brynchak
Armed violence in the system of state image formation
which can guarantee favourable external conditions for the sustainable
development of the state, ensure the independence and state sovereignty of
Ukraine, restore territorial integrity, and counter Russian aggression.
Eremeeva (2022) studied and systematised theoretical approaches to
the denition of the concept of the “international image of the state”. She
identied the formative factors of the state’s image (standard of living, legal
framework for regulating social relations, functioning of social policy, use of
mass media, and state means of inuence on society). The author classied
the directions of modern state image-making (geopolitical, marketing,
brand).
Buinitskyi and Yakovets (2019) analysed the role of the media in shaping
the image of a politician through the creation of stereotypical political images
and myths (“conspiracy myth”, “golden age myth”, “saviour hero myth”,
“unity myth”). Identied the means used by the media to create a political
image (combination of three facts: truth, falsehood, ction; repetition of
news, non-recognition of pluralism of opinions; “mudslinging” the enemy).
Rudnieva and Malovana (2022), studying the image of the state in
the context of the development of the information society and digital
technologies, noted the need to develop an information image. The
constant mention of the state in the information eld of national media will
lead to mention in international media. In addition, the authors focused
on improving the “Digital State”, as receiving public services online is
positively perceived by society, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic
and during martial law.
The issue of armed violence as a socio-political phenomenon has been
studied by Balatska (2018), Bader (2020), Balcells and Stanton (2021), and
other scholars. However, the topic of studying the impact of armed violence
in the system of forming the image of the state is poorly understood, which
determines the scientic novelty of the study.
2. Methodology
The methodology of studying the impact of armed violence on
the formation of the state image is characterized by pluralism, which
incorporates various methods of general philosophical, general scientic
and special levels.
The main approach used in the study concerning armed violence in the
system of socio-political relations is the dialectical approach. It is due to
this approach that the article examines the impact of armed violence on
the system of forming the image of the state and the relationship between
internal and external images. In addition, the dialectical approach was
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used to consider the phenomenon of armed violence and the concept of the
image, which are not unambiguously interpreted. The systematic method
was used to study the foreign policy image of the state.
This method was evaluated in order to determine the transformation of
the country’s image in the minds of the international community; to identify
the main changes in legal documents after the introduction of martial law;
to nd out that the image of the state is formed through the interconnected
functioning of not only the political, social, and economic spheres but also
the cultural one.
The structural-functional method helped to clarify the structure of
armed violence and the image of the state. The functional purpose of armed
violence in the system of forming the country’s image and its impact on
Ukraine’s integration into the European Union was determined. Using the
institutional method, the author analysed the image of the state as part of
the state institutions that create it. The role of socio-political institutions in
shaping the image was analysed. The conictological approach was used to
study the image of democracy and autocracy and to nd out public attitudes
towards the implementation of eective policies in Ukraine. The political
and cultural approach led to the study of the impact of armed violence on
the system of forming the state’s image through the media, the active use
of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of life, and the formation of the
original culture.
The axiological approach was used to identify the destructive values of
armed violence and to highlight the constructive values that are part of a
positive image of the state. The main materials used in the research were
Ukrainian and international legal documents, reports of social institutions
that study the reaction of society to the armed aggression against Ukraine,
and articles by Ukrainian and foreign scholars.
When searching for information sources, the main tags were: the
formation of the state image, political image during an armed conict,
European integration in times of war, international image of the country,
the image of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the image in the cultural system,
Ukraine’s perception by Europe in 2022.
3. Results and Discussion
The image of the state is formed by the targeted inuence of PR specialists
on the country’s citizens. The purpose of the image is to create a positive
image within the country and abroad. An image is a reection of the reality
created by the media. The main components of the image are imagination
and sensuality, so the image of the state cannot be considered objective.
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Svitlana Vovk, Liudmyla Novoskoltseva, Olena Mezhenska, Ihor Zhurba, Fedir Khodko y Stephanie Brynchak
Armed violence in the system of state image formation
The history of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union (EU) began
in the 2000s, but it was only in 2022 that the EU granted Ukraine the status
of a candidate for membership.
One of the reasons for the long-term European integration processes is
the negative image of Ukraine, characterised by investment unattractiveness,
an unstable economy (the COVID-19 pandemic played a special role in this
aspect), a protracted armed conict, and a low level of culture. However,
since the full-scale invasion, the country’s image has begun to change for
the better.
Armed violence is a form of political violence that necessarily aects
the lives of citizens. The structure of armed violence is as follows: a set
of subjects (individuals, groups, associations, and other socio-political
institutions) → inuence on the object of violence → establishment of a
strategic plan for armed violence → constitutional and conceptual grounds
for the use of armed violence (Bader, 2020).
The subject of armed violence that initiates this act (Russia) against the
object (Ukraine) seeks to seize, maintain and change a democratic regime
into an autocratic one in order to fully control the economic, social, and
spiritual spheres of society.
A similar opinion on armed violence in the system of socio-political
relations is shared by Bader (2020). In this system, Ukraine has taken
the position of a counterparty defending its freedom. Europe supported
Ukraine in the war by providing military, humanitarian, and nancial
assistance. In contrast, tough sanctions measures were imposed on Russia
(The European Commission, 2022).
A similar study on the European Union’s solidarity with Ukraine was
conducted by a team of authors from the Razumkov Center (2023), who
noted the EU’s condemnation of Russian aggression, non-recognition of
the annexation of Crimea, and the forced annexation of occupied Ukrainian
cities to Russia. The scientists also conrmed the author’s thesis on
comprehensive support for Ukraine in the war and added two more aspects
of assistance: ensuring the protection of the rights of refugees from Ukraine;
promoting reforms in Ukraine (Razumkov Center, 2023).
In accordance with the above mentioned, it can be stated that Russia’s
armed violence against Ukraine has begun to shape the positive image of
our country for the European community. An image is an image that is
created with the help of virtual information and communication tools. It
can be constantly adapted to political demands and rooted in the public
consciousness through the media.
Eremeeva (2022) gave a similar denition of the concept of “image”
with some clarications. From the point of view of an international PR
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CUESTIONES POLÍTICAS
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service, the image of a state can be created spontaneously or articially,
which realises the functions of a stable position of the state in the political
and global information space.
The image of the state cannot be formed alone; there are always two
addressees - the country’s society and the world community. Accordingly,
a distinction is made between the domestic and foreign policy image of a
country.
Chumak (2020) identies internal and external factors in the formation
of the state image. The author considers the general welfare of society,
respect for the rights of the Constitution, the absence of corruption, crime,
the shadow economy, and favourable social well-being to be positive
internal factors. The external factors include Ukraine’s foreign policy, EU
membership, development of diplomatic relations with strategic partner
countries, the conclusion of international documents, etc. Lisovskyi (2022)
denes the concept of “foreign policy image” as a set of ideas about the state
that are formed in the external environment.
Changes in the internal image of the state during 2020-2022 (Fig. 1).
Figure No. 01: Comparative analysis of well-being indicators on a 5-point scale.
Source: Created by the author based on the source (Razumkov Center, 2023).
According to Figure 1, martial law did not have a signicant impact on
the level of well-being of the population. The nancial situation of society
has mostly changed in a negative direction (Fig. 2).
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Svitlana Vovk, Liudmyla Novoskoltseva, Olena Mezhenska, Ihor Zhurba, Fedir Khodko y Stephanie Brynchak
Armed violence in the system of state image formation
Figure No. 02: The nancial situation of society during a full-scale war.
Source: Created by the author based on the source (Razumkov Center, 2023).
According to the analysis of internal factors of Ukraine’s image, it cannot
be unequivocally considered negative or positive, but rather neutral in
terms of citizens’ perception. As for the foreign policy image, the following
changes are observed (Table 1):
Table No. 01: Public attitude to foreign policy under martial law.
Direction Positive Negative
General implementation of foreign policy 78 % 6 %
Strengthening Ukraine’s relations with European
countries and international organisations 85,6% 14,4 %
Dissemination of unbiased information 86,2 % 13,8 %
The favourable attitude of Europe to Ukraine’s
international image and authority 86,2 % 13,8 %
Providing external support to counter external
aggression 86 % 14 %
Popularisation of Ukrainian initiatives on international
platforms 85,6 % 14,4 %
Integration into the EU 81,2 % 18,8 %
Integration into NATO 77,6 % 22,4 %
Protection of the Rights of Ukrainians abroad 72,4 % 27,6
Promotion of Ukrainian business in the international
market 67 % 33 %
Source: Created by the author based on the source (Ukrinform, 2023).
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The analysis of the results concerning internal and external image factors
showed that the former is paid less attention than the latter, which is a wrong
position. Horbachenko (2022) emphasised the formation of the internal
image rst, which indicates the self-development and competitiveness of
society, and only then the foreign policy image.
Armed violence in the system of forming the image of the state is
present in Russia in the form of aggression against Ukraine, which creates
an unattractive foreign policy image and contradicts the principles of
democracy. Ukraine has gained experience over many years of ghting
Russian aggression and hybrid threats and uses soft power to develop
secure, political, and legal relations with other countries. This, in turn,
creates a positive image of the state (Horbachenko, 2022). On February 24,
2022, the President of Ukraine declared martial law from 05:30 a.m. for 30
days (Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 64/2022, 2022).
The martial law is extended due to military operations. In connection
with the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, the rights and freedoms
of a person and a citizen provided for in Articles 30, 34, 38, 39, 41, 44,
53 of the Constitution of Ukraine, as well as temporary restrictions on the
rights and legitimate interests of legal entities within the limits and to the
extent necessary to ensure the possibility of introducing and implementing
measures of the legal regime of martial law, as provided for in Part 1 of
Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law” and
Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 64 of February 24, 2022 “On the
Introduction of Martial Law in Ukraine” (Decree of the President of Ukraine
No. 64/2022, 2022).
According to the documents “On the Legal Regime of Martial Law”
(part 10, article 9), the Regulations of Local Councils, “On Access to Public
Information” (part 6, article 22), “Some Issues of Ensuring the Functioning
of Information and Communication Systems, Electronic Communication
Systems, Public Electronic Registers under Martial Law”, there is a
limitation of interaction between local governments and the public.
This is conrmed by a study conducted within the framework of
the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening Public Participation in
Democratic Decision-Making in Ukraine” (Council of Europe, 2022). 42.2
percent of respondents are aware of cases of restrictions on public inuence
by local governments, while 57.8 percent are not aware of this issue.
An eective tool for addressing this issue is the principle of subsidiarity,
which involves the transfer of competencies to higher authorities and the
EU (Kumar, 2021). The main problems include the inaccessibility and
secrecy of information, ineective communication between society and the
state, and restrictions on the use of civic participation tools. On the one
hand, this is a violation of the principles of a democratic regime, which is
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Svitlana Vovk, Liudmyla Novoskoltseva, Olena Mezhenska, Ihor Zhurba, Fedir Khodko y Stephanie Brynchak
Armed violence in the system of state image formation
more like an autocracy where all decisions are made by the head of state,
and on the other hand, these temporary restrictions are part of democracy
to ensure the national security of citizens and society.
This is conrmed by a study conducted by the Kyiv International
Sociological Institute in 2022 (Democracy, rights and freedoms of citizens...,
2022), according to which 58% of respondents want a strong leader in the
person of the President, 27% prefer a democratic regime, and the remaining
14% abstained. Therefore, we can conclude that the restriction of citizens’
rights under martial law is fully justied and does not harm the image of
democracy.
The main problem that spoils the image of democracy is the inability of
the state to fully protect society from war crimes. Today, law enforcement
and judicial authorities need special training in collecting evidence of
the war crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine (Baladyiha, 2022).
However, the unication of the democratic regimes of Ukraine and Europe
will lead to a victory over the autocratic regime of Russia, as it is built on
unity, solidarity, peace, security, inviolability, honour, dignity against
violence, coercion, weapons, injustice, inequality, fear, etc. The article by
O. Kalynovskyi et al. (2023) discusses the means used by EU countries to
improve the eectiveness of law enforcement in Ukraine. These results can
be used to improve and optimize crime analysis.
The main structural components of the state’s image are ocial
information about Ukraine countering Russian aggression; general
perceptions of the state as a social institution that protects the rights and
freedoms of citizens; and daily reports on specic actions of the authorities
and political gures in the media that create the state’s domestic and foreign
policy image. There are 20 ministries, 24 state services, and 15 agencies
in Ukraine that directly inuence the formation of the country’s positive
image.
The information policy in the media plays an important role in spreading
the image of the state and forming a certain attitude towards it. This position
is supported by Volotko (2019), who argues that modern information
and communication tools used to shape the image of any country are
based on a number of actions to protect and promote its interests in the
international community, as well as to present information to the world
community about geography, politics, features of the national economy,
the state of development and major achievements of culture and science.
An information image is an image created with the help of language in the
media in accordance with requests. It is through language tools that contain
emotional colouring that public opinion is formed.
When developing an information image, it is important to constantly
update the information situation in the context of Ukraine’s national
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interests; to seek ways to inuence a certain situation to maintain a positive
image, implement Ukraine’s foreign policy strategy; to block hostile
information campaigns against Ukraine in advance, etc.
During martial law, an eective information policy is a component
of national security. Currently, there is a News Marathon that unites all
national TV channels, which are mostly lled with news and/or information
and analytical programs. At the initial stage, when the martial law was in
eect, this information policy was eective and helped reduce public panic.
However, now that the vast majority of Ukrainian citizens have
adapted to the martial law, society is interested in entertainment content,
learning news from social networks and YouTube, which can signicantly
distort information. A similar position is supported by Denysiuk (2021).
According to a study conducted by the Gradus Research Company in 2022,
77% learn information from social media, 60% receive information from
websites, 42% - from news on national television, 37% receive information
about events from relatives, friends, colleagues, 16% of respondents watch
local and regional television, and 13% listen to the radio (Gradus Research
Company, 2022). Accordingly, it is important to revise the strategy of the
state’s information image.
Thus, the main recommendations to improve the image of the state are:
protecting the rights of Ukrainian citizens within the country and abroad;
strengthening Ukraine’s information presence in the international media
space through the broad participation of Ukrainian state institutions, active
cooperation with local media and organisation of information events;
focusing more attention on cooperation with foreign journalists working
in Ukraine, informing them about the innovative, scientic, technical,
industrial, agricultural and tourist potential, and cult.
Conclusions
The denition of state image has many varieties, as each scholar interprets
this concept according to his or her subjective experience. However,
studying the image of a state in the context of international relations
allows concluding that the image of a state can arise under the inuence of
spontaneous (unconscious) factors, armed violence, geopolitical position,
and other characteristics, as well as a result of targeted media inuence. A
positive image of the state is formed through the successful functioning of
three components: internal image, foreign policy image, and information
image. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has had a positive impact on
Ukraine’s image in the European space.
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Svitlana Vovk, Liudmyla Novoskoltseva, Olena Mezhenska, Ihor Zhurba, Fedir Khodko y Stephanie Brynchak
Armed violence in the system of state image formation
For Europe, Ukraine has become a brave state that defends law, freedom,
and territorial integrity. With the introduction of martial law, a number
of restrictions were introduced at the legislative level that violates the
principles of a democratic regime. However, the overwhelming majority of
citizens support such restrictions as they contribute to the national security
of the state. In addition, during the full-scale war, a large number of war
crimes were recorded that violate International Humanitarian Law. It was
found that the judiciary does not have enough specialists to investigate such
crimes.
It is determined that the image of the state is exible and can be changed
in accordance with political and economic demands. In the context of
Ukraine’s foreign policy strategy, which is focused on European integration
processes and assistance from European countries, it was determined
that the formation of a positive image of the state is aimed at protecting
human rights, preserving Ukrainian culture, and using soft power. Since
the beginning of the full-scale war, the European community has been
favourable to Ukraine’s image.
Ukraine’s image needs constant correction in line with the socio-political
situation in the country and the world. The media play an important role
in shaping the image of the state, as they can cover the country’s actions in
both positive and negative ways. It is through the media that the perception
of reality and public opinion are formed. Currently, the information
policy is based on a news marathon, which is ineective because the news
is presented in a standardised and monotonous way. The vast majority
of people get their news from social media, which is uncontrolled and
uncensored. Accordingly, a promising area for further research is the impact
of social media on information policy in the context of armed violence.
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Esta revista fue editada en formato digital y publicada
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