DEFORMATION OF PATRIOTISM AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTEXTS

Abstract

Based on systemic, interdisciplinary, and concrete-historical approaches, this study analyzes patriotism across the spectrum of its real-life manifestations ‒ from distorted forms such as declarative and distant patriotism to effective, genuine patriotism oriented toward responsibility for the future of the Ukrainian state and society. The necessity of fostering political patriotism in the context of contemporary national security challenges is substantiated. The research aim is to examine how patriotism may be distorted in modern national contexts and to justify political patriotism as a relevant response to Ukraine’s current security threats. The study also emphasizes the importance of social responsibility ‒ understood as accountability to future generations ‒ as both a key marker and an essential component of modern patriotism. The research applies methods of philosophical reflection, analysis (including comparative analysis), document analysis, synthesis, monitoring, observation, and forecasting. The context of the study is contemporary Ukraine, which has effectively been in a state of war for more than a decade. The originality of the obtained results lies in the following: 1. An analysis of domestic theoretical and scholarly approaches to patriotism, as well as national programs and concepts of national-patriotic and military-patriotic education, shows that they are traditionally framed through a fusion of national and patriotic elements, with a strong emphasis on the emotional-affective dimension of patriotism. 2. It is substantiated that this approach gives rise to distortions of patriotism, such as “declarative” and “distant” forms, which, under conditions of martial law, can have highly destructive consequences. 3. The content of “distant” patriotism is revealed and its definition is proposed. 4. Based on a comparative analysis of migration processes in Ukraine and Israel ‒ both countries in a state of war ‒ the study proves that practical manifestations of patriotism do not fully depend on existential threats. 5. Through the analysis of the dynamics of public opinion regarding markers of patriotism (sociological surveys of 2021–2023), it is demonstrated that the dominant trend today is a shift toward recognizing the necessity of practical confirmation of patriotism through concrete actions for the benefit of the country and Ukrainian society. 6. This trend is interpreted as indicating the formation of a more conscious civic stance and sense of social responsibility within Ukrainian society. 7. Finally, it is argued that patriotism – in the form of political patriotism rooted in a welldeveloped civic position and social responsibility understood as accountability to future generations – is relevant to both the current and post-war security challenges facing Ukraine. This research opens up broad prospects for further theoretical and applied studies