National minorities in Ukraine: some stages of evolution of the system and protection of their rights

Abstract

The study is aimed at analyzing the processes of ensuring ethno-political unity and interethnic harmony in the modern Ukrainian state. This requires a scientifically based, balanced state policy aimed at ensuring the national interests and interests of national minorities at both the central and regional levels. Excessive politicization of the problems of interethnic relations hinders the development of political and legal priorities of the state ethno-national policy. After all, political forces have a monopolistic influence on political decision-making in the country, and therefore these priorities change dramatically with the rotation of political elites, which negatively affects the continuity of the state ethno-national policy. The purpose of the article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the historical aspects of the State ethno-national policy in Ukraine, and the specifics of the development of ethno-national relations in the context of modern challenges and the experience of state and nation-building.  The study used political science, historical, and sociological methods, as well as monitoring the evolution of ethno-national relations in Ukraine and analyzing their features. As a result of the study, the author defines the State ethno-national policy as an integral part of the internal policy of the State aimed at regulating the sphere of ethno-national relations and processes with a view to forming a political nation, ensuring the harmonious development of all its components: the nation as a whole, national minorities and ethnic groups, and establishing an atmosphere of inter-ethnic tolerance in society. The conclusions summarize that the state ethno-national policy in Ukraine has a long tradition, which was often better than the protection of national minority rights in other countries. The current system of protection of national minority rights in Ukraine has incorporated the experience of different stages of the evolution of the protection of national minority rights. It deserves high praise, although there are still many problems and shortcomings in this area.