Karpenko N. Geopolitical aspects of the image positioning of Ukraine.

The thesis is devoted to the complex study of the impact of geopolitical factors on the formation of the international image of Ukraine. The author proves that image positioning of the country in the global international political space should be realized in the frames of classical and critical geopolitical concepts as well as postmodern theory of international relations. The authors version of image positioning of Ukraine based on the Nation Brand Hexagon Anholts model through instruments of strategy of political mythologization is proposed. Being a carrier of geocultural heritage of orthodox civilization and at the same time following the "western values" ("freedom", "democracy", "republican system"), Ukraine has unique capabilities to be an agent of "dialogue between eastern and western civilizations", that may promote positive perception of Eastern Orthodox civilization by Europeans and principles of "Western democracy" at the Eurasian vector. Potential for representation of Ukraine as an energy and transport communication center in the frames of projects of "the Great Europe" and " the Silk Road" was represented taking into account its export, investment, historical and cultural components. Thus, the authors concept model of image positioning Ukraine is based on finding the possibilities of cooperation between the vectors (European and Eurasian) with the central role of Ukraine as a "communication hub" in order to hold "balance of power" at the regional level of international system and to minimize the effects of power confrontation between security blocks. Geopolitical aspects of image positioning of Ukraine show the capacity to develop the following symbolic image discourse: "Ukraine being a transport and energy bridge", "its leading role in revival of the Silk Road ("geopolitical Bridge")", "strong scientific and technical capabilities", "space power", "a country with high agricultural potential"," link between civilizations "and so on. Pattern number specified in the study is a semantic content for the strategy of political mythologization in image positioning of Ukraine.