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On 14th of November 2012, the Institute of World Policy presented the study “How to get rid of post-Sovietness?” implemented in partnership with the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (Tbilisi, Georgia), the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” (Chisinau, Moldova) and with support of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation.The study was presented by Alyona Getmanchuk, director of the Institute of World Policy, Serhiy Solodky, first deputy director of the Institute of World Policy, Leonid Litra, deputy-director of the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul.” Also, Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Center for Applied Studies “Penta” shared his expert opinion on the study.

The project consists of three parts, in which the phenomenon of post-Sovietness in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia is studied. Choice is motivated not only because those countries were part of the Soviet Union, but also by the fact that they have officially declared the will to join the European Union. In the course of the study, the Institute of World Policy identified attributes of post-Sovietness in politics and society

The IWP have also developed 10 recommendations that aim to eliminate post-Sovietness in social-political context. Among them:

1. Europeanization and socialization. The implementation of the set of reforms that would bring all three countries closer to the EU. The introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU, which would allow more Ukrainian, Georgians and Moldovans to see firsthand the benefits of liberal values.
2. Demythologization Soviet legacy. The need for broad public discussion of crimes of the Soviet era, the appropriateness of Soviet symbols in the infrastructure, etc.
3. Active civil society. The higher is the level of public participation and self-organization, the faster democratic traditions will take roots in society and more responsible the government will be.
4. The key role of the media. In the transition period, leading role should be given to the civic journalism and to so-called “muckrakers,” who acutely respond to cases of corruption, nepotism within the government.
5. Implementation of e-governance. Using the latest electronic technology will reduce the level of bureaucracy of the state apparatus and hence would reduce corruption.
6. Exchange programs between regions. The increase of travel of citizens within their countries will reduce social tension assist in overcoming stereotypes, engendered to a certain extent by the Soviet propaganda machine.
7. Contests for public offices. Introduction of more transparent procedures (involving representatives of civil society) for selection of individuals for public office will help in the struggle with nepotism.
8. The fight against corruption. Eradication of corruption using the experience of Georgia.
9. Debureaucratization. Reducing the number of officials and simplification of procedures for receiving certain documents in government
10. Improving educational standards. Recommendations in this area could be summarized in three main points: the decentralization of higher education, strict punishment for any form of plagiarism at university level, and the involvement of employees with Western education and knowledge of foreign languages (especially English) in public administration.

In the course of the event, the presentation of online test on the post-Sovietness took place. The goal of the test is to bring more attention to the phenomenon of the post-Sovietness and its attributes. The test is available on the news and analytical agency “Glavcom:” http://glavcom.ua/post-soviet.html
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