Right electoral preferences of the population of the western region of Ukraine

Аннотация

The article described the features of modern electoral preferences of the population of Western region of Ukraine. The essence of the concept of electoral preferences has been established. The study of electoral preferences in this region was made in the context of right and left political forces. The analysis of the electoral preferences of the population of the region during the regular and special parliamentary and presidential elections 2010?2015 years has been fulfilled. The regional differences of electoral preferences were analyzed and the areas of electoral sympathy for right-wing or left-wing candidates were localized. The real dynamic changes in electoral preferences of the population of the region have been included. Internal heterogeneity of Western region of Ukraine in terms of political preferences of the population was found. The role of the patriotic consciousness, mental differences in the areas of region, geographical, historical, religious and linguistic factors in the formation of the electoral preferences in the region have been stated.

On the basis of the study note that WRU is traditionally the electoral base of right-wing national-democratic forces. However, political preferences of region are not limited to classical coordinates ?left-wing-right-wing? because the role played by cultural and historical characteristics of the region and the foreign policy orientation to the East or West, and behind it and vectors to Europe and Russia is important.