THE ROLE OF SYMBOLS IN POLITICS: SYSTEMATIZATION OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF UKRAINIAN RESEARCHERS
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2415-881x.2026.100.1.172-186
Abstract
The achievements of Ukrainian science on understanding the role of symbols in politics are systematized at an interdisciplinary level. The main directions of research devoted to this problem are determined. These directions include: theoretical and methodological principles of symbolism in politics; symbolization of political reality and communication; ritualization of everyday life, politics of memory and ideological narratives; psychosymbolic and socio-psychological dimensions of politics.
Based on the analysis of publications by Ukrainian authors, it was found that the symbolic reality of politics is an important aspect of modern socio-political development. Political symbols in modern conditions are gaining special importance as a factor of democratic governance. There is a dynamic transformation of the traditional understanding of symbols as additional elements.
It is proven that symbols actively shape political reality and have a decisive influence on the processes of acceleration or inhibition of socio-political changes. Symbolic systems are able to both outpace real political and economic transformations and lag behind them, which cannot but affect the nature of political life. Symbols have their own unique features in terms of functioning in different political systems. Globalization and digital technologies have a significant impact on the development of symbolic reality. And this requires taking into account in political planning the symbolic dimension of decisions made and their likely impact on public opinion.
Prospects for further research into symbolic and political reality have been identified, which consist in clarifying the possibilities of combining political science analysis with the achievements of cognitive psychology, sociology, cultural studies, semiotics, etc.
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