Following on my previous study, the present research project aims at exploring the ways to better enhance the process of Europeanisation in Ukraine and to foster the European perceptions among the population. In particular, this study argues that the increased mobility ensured by the visa free regime and exchange educational programmes significantly contribute to the enhancement of the ‘Europeanness’ among the Ukrainian population.

Methodologically, the present study employs a mixed methods approach which combines both qualitative and quantitative instruments. As far as the qualitative method is concerned, the study will be built upon the data obtained from the expert interviews conducted in 2016-2017 within the project ‘Scientia est Potentia: Education without Borders’. From a quantitative perspective, the study will explore the findings of the most recent surveys (2015-2017) conducted in Ukraine within the projects ‘Region, Nation and Beyond. An Interdisciplinary and Transcultural Reconceptualization of Ukraine’ and ‘Transcultural Contact Zones in Ukraine’.

The project aims at exploring the challenges of the Europeanization process in Ukraine with regard to the country’s in-between-ness (domestic and foreign). In the first phase I will briefly look at the theoretical underpinnings of the Europeanization, particularly with regards to the neighbourhood. The second half of the study provides empirical evidence on how the ‘European idea’ has been perceived within the Ukrainian society during the past years and what the main obstacles have been for the Europeanization process to unfold. Therefore, I argue that the multivectorialism in Ukrainian foreign and domestic policy generated by the country’s in-between-ness has been the main stumbling block to the Europeanization process. In the final part I will summarize the findings and present the conclusions.

A full-length study is available here.