National Identity and the Impact of Forced Mobilization on Public Resistance Movements in Ukraine

Abstract

The article examines the impact of forced mobilisation on national identity and civilian resistance movements in Ukraine. The study focuses on the historical and socio-political situation of Ukraine, which is under pressure from external forces that threaten its sovereignty and national cohesion. It is especially important to analyse how the intensification of hostilities and forced mobilisation affect the formation of Ukrainian identity and contribute to the emergence and strengthening of public resistance.

The purpose of the study is to analyse the relationship between national identity and the experience of forced mobilisation, in particular its impact on the formation, motivation and organisation of public resistance movements in Ukraine. The applied methods of analysis, synthesis, generalisation and systematisation allow us to study the impact of mobilisation on different regions of the country and their socio-political dynamics.

The results of the study indicate a significant impact of forced mobilisation on public sentiment, which demonstrates distinct regional differences. In regions with a strong sense of Ukrainian identity, mobilisation mostly plays a unifying role, strengthening resistance to the external aggressor and fostering solidarity. At the same time, in regions where historical ties with neighbouring countries or ethnic tensions prevail, mobilisation often increases tensions, which can lead to opposition to state goals. The authors emphasise the need to improve public policy by developing effective measures aimed at strengthening national identity while taking into account regional specificities in the implementation of mobilisation measures. The study shows that while forced mobilisation has significantly strengthened national identity in the western and central regions of Ukraine, its effects in the eastern regions are ambiguous, indicating significant regional differences. It is emphasised that forced mobilisation is a dual tool: it can both strengthen support for the national idea and consolidate society and create risks of alienation of certain social groups, which can fuel resistance to both external threats and the government's domestic policy.