European Public Diplomacy Influence on the Formation of Foreign Policy Preferences of Ukrainian Population

Master's thesis is devoted to the analysis of the influence of the European Union public diplomacy on the formation of foreign policy preferences of Ukrainian population. At the end of 2013 - early 2014 this East European country definitively or for a long time chose the "pro-European direction” in foreign policy. It is clear that the opinion of Ukrainian citizens played an important role in the political processes of the recent past of the country and, therefore, we need to understand how public opinion is formed and transformed. The concept of public diplomacy is considered on the basis of the works of the representatives of the constructivist school of thought. The author argues that the causes of the Ukrainian events and the "European choice" lie in the influence of EU public diplomacy, which has been "connected" with the basic beliefs and values of Ukrainian society. Due to the persuasive discourse and the normative potential of the European Union, the Ukrainians saw the EU as a "good neighbor" and an economic giant that can improve the living conditions in the country and contribute to its democratic development.