Kruglashov A. Political manipulation in Presidential Election Campaigns in Ukraine: years 2004 and 2010.

Manipulative influences in politics are produced by the nature of power and logic of the electoral process, yet possibility of emergence of protection against political manipulation exists. During the articulation of social demand on protection against political manipulation institutions of civil society play crucial role. Origins and reasons for the widespread political manipulation in Ukraine are characterized in dissertation. Use of manipulative potential of political advertising in presidential election campaigns and peculiarities manipulative component of political discourse leading presidential elections in Ukraine in 2004 and 2009-2010 are studied from the perspective of intent and character of the use of manipulative techniques and the strategic impacts of their influence. Problem of political manipulation remains fundamentally unsolvable. Nevertheless, author proposes to think beyond manipulation and reassess conditions that make such influences prolific in politics by refocusing attention from "curing ills" towards "strengthening health" of Ukrainian civil society by making political system more transparent, establishing proper grounds for social dialogue and introducing to public discourse virtues of honesty, freedom, equity and accountability. This task is to be fulfilled not only by experts, but citizens.