SOCIAL SELF-ORGANIZATION AS A FACTOR IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE STATE’S SOCIAL FUNCTION IN THE CONTEXT OF ENSURING NATIONAL RESILIENCE DURING WARTIME AND IN THE PROSPECT OF UKRAINE’S POST-WAR RECOVERY

Abstract

The article substantiates the logic of transforming the state’s social function under martial law and emphasizes the need to establish a new welfare state model. In this model, traditional social policy instruments are flexibly combined with mechanisms of social self-organization. Since the volume of funds allocated for social expenditure under martial law is inherently limited, a logical necessity arises to attract new funding sources, such as international assistance and social investments. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of forming a new mental paradigm: unlike the traditional model of state paternalism and social guardianship, individuals become active agents within the social security system. They practice self-help measures aimed at investing in human capital, which will be subsequently engaged in the labor process to generate a stable income. Social security is presented as a multi-level system, where one of the foundational levels is a competitive, cohesive community that promotes shared values, as well as principles of solidarity and mutual support. By providing every community member with a reliable foundation for achieving personal resilience – primarily through social services and psycho-social adaptation measures, including those tailored for internally displaced persons, rehabilitating military personnel, and families of victims of war – the community level is closely linked to the national level. At the national level, state social protection policies are implemented, the system of social services is developed, and the volunteer movement receives institutional framework – all of which collectively contribute to achieving national resilience amidst wartime challenges. The study analyzes the self-organization practices of the population within Ukraine’s territorial communities under martial law. This analysis leads to the conclusion that while the potential for population self-organization cannot fully compensate for the deficit of required resources, it allows communities to respond rapidly to crisis situations, offset temporary limitations in institutional capacity, and build horizontal ties among citizens.