Non-Governmental Institutions as Actors of German ‘Soft Power’ in Ukraine (1992-2022)

Abstract

The purpose of the research paper is to characterize the activity of German non-governmental institutions (organizations) in Ukraine during 1992-2022 through the prism of the concept of ‘soft power’ by J. Nye, as well as to clarify the forms, aims, priorities, and results of their activity.

The scientific novelty is in the concept of ‘soft power’ application in the study of the activities of German non-governmental organizations in Ukraine at the time of independence.

The methodology of the research, which is essentially interdisciplinary, is based on the combination of the political science concept of J. Nye and the historical approach. The ‘soft power’ of Germany is analyzed as a combination of four components: resources (values, language, culture, etc.), actors (subjects of influence who use the attractiveness of the resources to involve target groups of the population), tools (means of influence including public diplomacy and its varieties), results (positive image, implementation of political and cultural values, etc.).

Conclusions. Since the beginning of its independence, Ukraine has become the object of significant interest both on the part of the government agencies of the Federal Republic of Germany and its numerous non-governmental institutions that have been active in our country since 1992.

German non-governmental organizations can be conditionally divided into two groups: 1) political, which primarily include party foundations; 2) cultural, educational, and scientific, among which the Goethe-Institut, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Wave (Deutsche Welle) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation should be singled out.

When implementing the ‘soft power’ policy, these institutions rest on such resources as democracy and a developed civil society’s values, the German language and culture, and the federal system of education and science. The activities of German non-governmental organizations in Ukraine generally correspond to their general goals.

Among the main results of these institutions’ activities can be named the formation of a positive image of Germany in Ukraine, as well as the spread of European political values among target groups of the Ukrainian population (mainly young people). The result of the latter has become the formation of civil society in Ukraine and increasing European integration, which has been also facilitated by the activities of other democratic countries’ institutions. However, confirmation of the last statement requires separate research. It also seems promising to study the relationship between Germany’s ‘soft power’ (or another Western country) and the emigration of the Ukrainian population during the period of independence.