On December 8, Kyiv hosted a roundtable discussion initiated by the Ukrainian Institute for Conservative Studies and Innovations on the topic: “The Current State of Conservative Thought in Ukraine: Ways of Development.”
Experts from various fields, scientists, doctors, bloggers, philosophers and other representatives of Ukraine’s intellectual elite took part in the event. The participants discussed contemporary conservatism, its possible impact on Ukrainian society, and plans to popularize it.
Mykhailo Shevchenko, Director of the Ukrainian Institute for Conservative Studies and Innovations, emphasized that today Ukrainian conservatism has the potential to serve harmonious development rather than deepen the ideological crisis in the country. He called for the unification of all passionate people who are ideologically inspired by conservatism, considering it as an ideology that creates long-term stability of society on the basis of the deep tradition of the people and leads to a successful future.
During the discussion, the experts spoke about the importance of returning to cultural traditions, as tradition is the basis of conservative values.
Volodymyr Nakonechnyi, an international expert and one of the ideologists of conservatism, emphasized that Ukrainian conservatism is progressive as an attribute of the thinking of a Ukrainian statesman based on national authentic and organic principles and patriotic pragmatism. Tradition is timeless, based on values that do not pass away: morality, conscience, spirituality.
In the twenty-first century, it is important to preserve the spiritual type of person. This type included: H. Skovoroda, P. Kulish, T. Shevchenko, I. Franko, P. Yurkevych, P. Skoropadsky, V. Lypynsky, A. Sheptytsky, and other passionate people. Creators of ideas and deep meanings.
After the discussion, the participants discussed opportunities for further cooperation and identified common interests in future projects.