Beiträge

Study: Ukrainians adopt „Western Mentality“

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A study conducted by the Ukrainian / Danish software firm Livatek suggests that there has been a shift in mentality in Ukraine over the recent years. In a digital „cultural survey“ the participants were asked to respond to typical „questions of scruples“ regarding their professional and personal life. The study first has been conducted four years ago, which makes it even more interesting: Not only has Ukraine gone through dramatic times, and still is, but also there have been some dramatic shifts in the mentality applied to work and life in general. While the results for participants from Northern Europe and North America have been in the same range for both studies.
The biggest finding is an interesting one: While in 2011 the mentality in the Ukraine was significantly different from the one in Northern Europe and North America, this difference is now gone for the most part. The Ukrainian mentality has adjusted to a more „western“ mindset. Fundamentally in 2011, there was no trust in the legal system. The individual and its direct friends were valued higher than the society. And there was a strong belief that your family background matters more than what you are doing – which direcly translates into who is supporting and protecting you is key to success. Now that has changed.
UA Survey

Source: Livatek

The study concludes that the Ukraine is now a less individualistic society with much greater trust in law enforcement and the legal system. Its much less important for Ukrainians now who looks after you – much more important now is the belief that you can matter for yourself in life and achieve something by your own.
What a shift!
This shift has happened in just four years – in which the Ukrainian society stood up against a kleptocratic tyrant and another one from its neighborhood, still facing the conflict.
It makes me optimistic for the future of the country because these values we now share are the foundation for economic success. And economic success is key for stability of the society.
The full study conducted by Livatek is available here.

Soros is pushing Ukraine towards a better future

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Ukraine has been in the news for so long with mostly negative topics related to the Russian invasion in the eastern parts of the country and the annexation of Crimea by the Russian army before. These reports overshadowed the fact that the people of Ukraine decided to rid a corrupt and cleptocratic Regime, that was leading the country back to tyranny. The people of Ukraine chose freedom and and a free economy, and with it an open society following the western model. Its really been that – the choice between cleptocrates stealing the assets of the country or a free society. It had only little to do with any east / west conflict in my view, at least internally in Ukraine. The Ukrainians simply did not care for what Russia thought about their strive for freedom. Obviously, looking at the bigger picture, the Russian regime feared something like this could happen at home and they feared NATO coming closer and, probably most importantly, they feared losing influence. And everyone knows what happened next.

During these rough times, the young and educated in Ukraine did not stand still to move the country forward. I reported earlier about the efforts of the Brain Basket Foundation to educate more IT engineers and Software Developers, with the goal of strengthening this big and important industry. 

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How IT could change (and save?) Ukraine

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Kyiv – Maidan Square. Source: primetour.ua

In my last assignment, I was fortunate enough to get to know Ukraine and its people. Its been an interesting time – when I was there first, their cleptocratic „President“ Yanukovych was in power and you could sense in the capital Kyiv that people were unhappy with the way things went. Corruption was everywhere in the public life. Billions simply disappeared in construction for the EU soccer championship and other projects – very much in the public eye. The Elite secured the access to the money, which was something the people of Ukraine hoped to have overcome with the Orange Revolution in 2004. Plus they opted for democracy and freedom and a western lifestyle back then – things which the regime was step by step taking away from them again under Yanukovych. My understanding is, having been there and then, that this were the reasons why the people of Ukraine removed Mr. Yanukovych from power.

My contact to the Ukraine was through Software Development – and I learned that it is a very strong market for near-shoring and outsourced M&A. Software Developers enjoy a very high reputation in the society and a much higher salary than the monthly average of  EUR 417. They are the hope of many as they are well educated, well paid and want an open society and peace – and if only because that is what secures their jobs. These people have and had no interest in going back in time – they stand for the principles of the Orange Revolution today. They are peaceful, dedicated and hard-working for their future.

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