The dissertation is devoted to the historical and sociological reconstruction and methodological systematization of interpretive schemes (frames) of the participants of protest events (on the example of Euromaidan 2013-2014) in the context of their everyday practices and interactions.
The inquiry highlights the main theoretical and methodological foundations of the interpretive tradition in sociology and demonstrates the relevance of oral history methodology to this tradition.
The main characteristics and methodological peculiarities are ascertained of applying the oral history approach in sociology and in-depth interview as its tool. The characteristics that are important for a qualitative interviewer are explicated. The main stages of preparation, course and analysis of in-depth interview are presented. The peculiarities of using the methodology of oral history and the in-depth interview method in socio-political movements studies are described.
The main ways of applying framing analysis to the study of socio-political movements in sociological research are systematized. The understanding of the protest movement frame is specified; the corresponding generalized definition is formulated. Features of protest frames important for the empirical part of the study are outlined.
The results of the available sociological research of the meanings related to Euromaidan are singled out and generalized. The meanings of the very concept of “Maidan”, which were constructed during the Revolution of Dignity, are analyzed; new meanings that Maidan as a symbolic revolution brought to the Ukrainian discourse and values that it actualized in Ukrainian society are described.
Based on thorough empirical material (about 400 in-depth semi-structured interviews), the context of events is described, and the main components of protest framing in interpretations of its participants at different stages of Euromaidan 2013–2014 (“Maidan-rally” (November 21–29, 2013), “Maidan-camp” (November 30, 2013 – January 18, 2014), “Maidan-Sich” (January 19 – February 22, 2014)) are revealed. Protest frames are systematized according to their interpretive functions, namely: factors and causes of protest (a diagnostic component of framing), protest strategies (a prognostic component of framing), incentives and motivations for collective action (a motivational component of framing).
The collected empirical material allowed expanding the operationalization of the frames of socio-political protest from the division into diagnostic, prognostic and motivational to the inclusion of other concepts used by the participants in their interpretive patterns of protest events.
The crucial frame characterizing people’s participation in Maidan events – “help” – is interpreted. Help at the Maidan is classified according to several parameters (resources, a field of activity, professionalism, duration of rendering, the criticality of situation and type of recipient). Examples of help at the Maidan are described.
The crucial frame characterizing the type of interaction between Maidan participants – “self-organization” (formation of grassroots volunteer initiatives) – is described. The main characteristics and features of self-organized initiatives are distinguished on the example of six Maidan volunteer organizations involved in helping victims of protests. The process of creating grassroots volunteer initiatives is described. Social portraits of the leaders of these organizations are outlined.
Keywords: interpretive sociology, social meanings, oral history, framing analysis of protest, in-depth interview, frames, Maidan 2013–2014, Euromaidan.
