Institutional support of intercultural communication in Ukraine in the context of implementation of its european integration vector

Formulation of the problem. Currently, Ukraine has to overcome new challenges, which it faces in the modern globalized society. The realities in which the Ukrainian state found itself force us to look for answers to many questions in almost all area of the country’s life. One of these dilemmas is the problem of preserving traditional cultural identity within in the context of intercultural communication, as interstate interactions are an indispensable condition for a country’s existence in the global cultural space. Although there are significant risks of accepting not only positive, but also negative aspects of these contacts.

Thus, Ukraine is challenged to preserve its cultural identity, in particular, in the field of public administration, without falling to the sidelines of the global civilizational process. We need to clarify this question in the context of the existing contradictions of intercultural communication, considering the peculiarities of the development of Ukraine at the present stage, and in the future.

Analysis of the recent research and publications. In modern realities, F. S. Batsevych, M.  M.  Halytska,  N.  V.  Hrytsiak,  O.  V.  Ihnatenko,  O.  P.  Kuchmii,  L.  V.  Lytvynova, S. Maltseva, V. M. Manakin, E. A. Makarenko, I. Yu. Miazova, M. M. Ryzhkov, S. G. Ter- Mynasova, O. M. Frolov and many others have touched this problem in their works. The publications raise an issue of the behavior of individuals under the influence of intercultural communication, study the peculiarities of public administration within communication processes, and analyze linguistic aspects of intercultural interactions.

Determining parts of the general problem that were not resolved previously. European integration processes of the Ukrainian statehave recently intensified due to the military actions on the territory of Ukraine and the openness of the European Union to ne- gotiations. Therefore, the need for in-depth scientific research related to the imple- mentation of the European integration aspirations of the Ukrainian state and the study and justification of the role of public authorities in ensuring effective communication between the Ukrainian and European parties becomes topical. In this regard, study of the peculiarities of the institutional support of intercultural communication processes of Ukraine in the context of implementation of its European integration vector is highly relevant in modern conditions.

Presentation of the main research material. Ukraine’s participation in intercultural communication is a special process that involves taking into account both positive and negative aspects present in the communication relations. Among the obvious advantages of intercultural communication are expansion of the range of possibilities of communicators due to new acquaintances, conversations, experience, opening of new opportunities and perspectives, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to remember the shortcomings of intercultural communication, which manifest themselves in the cultural bias of the parties, who are used to certain established stereotypes, norms and rules of behavior acceptable in this or that society.

Intercultural communication can be a source and a tool for the rapprochement of Ukraine and the European Union, as well as a way to avoid dangerous trends, such as the isolation of the Ukrainian state from European society. Along with this, intercultural ties are a reliable tool for countering divisions that can arise in Europe itself. Cultivating the kinship of European national cultures in the direction of strengthening interactions between countries, including cultural ones, is important here.

Implementation of the European integration policy of the Ukrainian state, taking into account the key principles and experience of the European cultural policy, will, in our opinion, have a positive impact on European society. Ukrainian culture as a component of European integration and humanitarian development will play an important role in the European Union, in particular, in the following directions: enrichment of European culture with Ukrainian monuments and cultural and historical heritage assets; promotion of cultural diversity in modern European society; development of creative and cultural potential of European society; expanding the access for Europeans to historical and cultural heritage in accordance with the positioning of Ukraine as a full-fledged European state.

In our opinion, strategic orientations of Ukraine on the way to European integration in the context of intercultural communication should be the following: acceptance of Ukrainian culture to the European and world cultural space as a full-fledged actor, and not only as a carrier of ethnographic or post-communist exoticism or a passive consumer of other people’s ideas; development of civil society and democracy, prioritizing interests and values of individuals; focus not only on integration into pan-European economic and political structures, but also on European integration in general.

Conclusions. Intercultural communication  includes such components as features of thinking, attitudes, knowledge, and skills that relate both to one’s own culture and to foreign culture, and manifest themselves during interactions between representatives of different cultures. In course of intercultural communication between Ukraine and the EU, institutional support, which gained special importance after the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, plays an important role. Institutional base that is functioning now was being formed during a long period. Among the number of tasks for public authorities in the context of coordination and regulation of European integration processes, it is necessary to note their role in establishing close and effective intercultural communication between the representatives of the peoples of Europe and Ukraine, as well as representingUkrainian state in communication on the international arena.