Democratization matters
The logic of fair recovery should include not only the literal understanding of the word "recovery" but also a complex of measures of a non-economic, non-technical nature. That is why we talk about "fair recovery" in the broad sense of the word, because the challenge that Ukraine is experiencing in the form of war with the Russian Federation is an existential challenge, of a state nature. The situation on the front line, humanitarian aid, macroeconomic support from the EU and NATO, arms supplies, the so-called "de-Russification" in culture and politics of national memory, the construction of democratic institutions - all these and much more are aspects of a major crisis in which we find ourselves. The approach to it should also be comprehensive.
Fair recovery will be one of Ukraine's key tasks in the coming years.
The success of recovery will depend on:
1. "victory" in the war in the broad sense of the word, not only on the battlefield;
2. reorganization of the state apparatus and political authorities;
3. the speed and quality of economic stabilization;
4. formation of a new social contract between the government and the population;
5. preservation of the rule of law in Ukraine;
6. avoiding "war poisoning" in cultural and value contexts.
1. "victory" in the war in the broad sense of the word, not only on the battlefield;
2. reorganization of the state apparatus and political authorities;
3. the speed and quality of economic stabilization;
4. formation of a new social contract between the government and the population;
5. preservation of the rule of law in Ukraine;
6. avoiding "war poisoning" in cultural and value contexts.
Democratization and fair recovery are closely related
Because war inevitably sacrifices democracy for the sake of security and defense against a common enemy. People give up part of their freedom and even their rights in order to strengthen their defensive and security capabilities, and mobilize efforts to provide decisive resistance to the enemy. The positive consequence of this is usually the state gaining enormous resources for waging war and successful resistance to external aggression. But equally inevitable are the negative consequences of this process, as war leads to erosion of the rule of law, dilution of the legal field, weakening of the link between government and society, sharp simplification of thinking, and increased state control over many areas of life. In simpler terms, the state tightens the screws to simplify governance during wartime, which carries both opportunities and risks.
If this process gets out of control, it can end in a deep crisis in the relationship between the state and society, further divide people, and sow the seeds of new conflicts in the future, locking the country into a new spiral of violence and chronic problems.
That is why fair recovery must include the aspect of democratization of the country and society as the basis for truly qualitative post-war recovery. In practice, this includes questions of institutions, electoral mechanisms, party building, and balance of the political system.
Because war inevitably sacrifices democracy for the sake of security and defense against a common enemy. People give up part of their freedom and even their rights in order to strengthen their defensive and security capabilities, and mobilize efforts to provide decisive resistance to the enemy. The positive consequence of this is usually the state gaining enormous resources for waging war and successful resistance to external aggression. But equally inevitable are the negative consequences of this process, as war leads to erosion of the rule of law, dilution of the legal field, weakening of the link between government and society, sharp simplification of thinking, and increased state control over many areas of life. In simpler terms, the state tightens the screws to simplify governance during wartime, which carries both opportunities and risks.
If this process gets out of control, it can end in a deep crisis in the relationship between the state and society, further divide people, and sow the seeds of new conflicts in the future, locking the country into a new spiral of violence and chronic problems.
That is why fair recovery must include the aspect of democratization of the country and society as the basis for truly qualitative post-war recovery. In practice, this includes questions of institutions, electoral mechanisms, party building, and balance of the political system.
Fair recovery of political balance
It is important for the political system in Ukraine to be balanced, pluralistic, and integral after the war. It is already obvious today that the current power structure and composition of parliament will change.
Society and international partners rightly see this as an opportunity to reboot the system, renew it, and return to the path of legal democracy, which is the only model capable of satisfying people's need for justice in governance, political opportunities, judicial independence, transparency of procedures, and decision-making. Checks and balances will be the basis for fair recovery and democratization of Ukraine, as they enable avoiding typical post-war risks associated with usurpation of power, creation of a new cohort of oligarchs, further deinstitutionalization of parliament, government and judicial structures, tyranny of law enforcement agencies, conservation of a simple industrial structure, and spread of corruption.
It is important for the political system in Ukraine to be balanced, pluralistic, and integral after the war. It is already obvious today that the current power structure and composition of parliament will change.
Society and international partners rightly see this as an opportunity to reboot the system, renew it, and return to the path of legal democracy, which is the only model capable of satisfying people's need for justice in governance, political opportunities, judicial independence, transparency of procedures, and decision-making. Checks and balances will be the basis for fair recovery and democratization of Ukraine, as they enable avoiding typical post-war risks associated with usurpation of power, creation of a new cohort of oligarchs, further deinstitutionalization of parliament, government and judicial structures, tyranny of law enforcement agencies, conservation of a simple industrial structure, and spread of corruption.
Fair institutional restoration
It is important for the restored Ukraine to return to the path of building strong institutions.
They are the cornerstone of success for any country, regardless of times of war or peace. Institutions allow for the formation of a strong bureaucratic apparatus with a sense of responsibility and a state approach to its basic functions. In other words, without institutions, it is difficult to govern a country, for example, to implement reforms.
Institutional weakness is a chronic problem in Ukraine, stemming from the failed post-communist transformations of the 1990s, which did not lead to the creation of a strong Western-style democracy but to the formation of an oligarchic model of governance, in which there were weak state bodies with limited influence, and real power was concentrated in the "deep state," in the hands of financial-industrial groups, which replaced state interests with their own, bribing politicians, thereby spreading a culture of corruption among government officials. Ironically, the war strengthened some institutions related to the defense-industrial complex but weakened the rest. This year's polls record record levels of distrust by the majority of Ukrainians towards all major state structures, from the Verkhovna Rada to the courts. Only the Armed Forces maintain a very high level of trust.
Fair restoration entails a return to discussions about building stable, effective, and accountable institutions capable of generating, analyzing, and implementing decisions necessary to meet state interests. This directly relates to justice as a societal demand because without the restoration of institutions, the population's trust in the state will not be restored, and therefore, there will be no opportunity to develop the country without new conflicts and crises.
It is important for the restored Ukraine to return to the path of building strong institutions.
They are the cornerstone of success for any country, regardless of times of war or peace. Institutions allow for the formation of a strong bureaucratic apparatus with a sense of responsibility and a state approach to its basic functions. In other words, without institutions, it is difficult to govern a country, for example, to implement reforms.
Institutional weakness is a chronic problem in Ukraine, stemming from the failed post-communist transformations of the 1990s, which did not lead to the creation of a strong Western-style democracy but to the formation of an oligarchic model of governance, in which there were weak state bodies with limited influence, and real power was concentrated in the "deep state," in the hands of financial-industrial groups, which replaced state interests with their own, bribing politicians, thereby spreading a culture of corruption among government officials. Ironically, the war strengthened some institutions related to the defense-industrial complex but weakened the rest. This year's polls record record levels of distrust by the majority of Ukrainians towards all major state structures, from the Verkhovna Rada to the courts. Only the Armed Forces maintain a very high level of trust.
Fair restoration entails a return to discussions about building stable, effective, and accountable institutions capable of generating, analyzing, and implementing decisions necessary to meet state interests. This directly relates to justice as a societal demand because without the restoration of institutions, the population's trust in the state will not be restored, and therefore, there will be no opportunity to develop the country without new conflicts and crises.
Fair restoration of party building
It is important for party building in Ukraine to flourish and become a driver of quality political changes in governance.
Firstly, this corresponds to society's demand for "new faces," which is noticeable even now during times of war. Secondly, party pluralism creates a healthy competitive environment, giving ambitious groups of people the opportunity to come to power and work for the good of the country. Thirdly, party building instills in people a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and compels them to generate ideas, thereby raising the level of discussion in society, driven by competition of these ideas. Fourthly, parties have always been and will be social elevators for those people who have ambitions and ideas for reforming the state.
In the logic of fair restoration, it is important not just to "restore" what was, that is, to return to the old way of building parties, which were simply appendages of oligarchs and instruments of their influence on the country's politics, but also to heed the demand for justice from the population, which lies in improving the party-building system, transitioning to strong party politics, in which parties act as generators of specific ideas and advocates of the interests of specific population groups, competing with each other in a healthy, democratic way, prompting deep discussions in society while ensuring a balance of interests between different social groups.
It is important for party building in Ukraine to flourish and become a driver of quality political changes in governance.
Firstly, this corresponds to society's demand for "new faces," which is noticeable even now during times of war. Secondly, party pluralism creates a healthy competitive environment, giving ambitious groups of people the opportunity to come to power and work for the good of the country. Thirdly, party building instills in people a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and compels them to generate ideas, thereby raising the level of discussion in society, driven by competition of these ideas. Fourthly, parties have always been and will be social elevators for those people who have ambitions and ideas for reforming the state.
In the logic of fair restoration, it is important not just to "restore" what was, that is, to return to the old way of building parties, which were simply appendages of oligarchs and instruments of their influence on the country's politics, but also to heed the demand for justice from the population, which lies in improving the party-building system, transitioning to strong party politics, in which parties act as generators of specific ideas and advocates of the interests of specific population groups, competing with each other in a healthy, democratic way, prompting deep discussions in society while ensuring a balance of interests between different social groups.
Fair restoration of the electoral process
Finally, it is important for the electoral process to embody fair restoration.
Without transparent election rules, there will be nothing of the above, especially "fair." Elections distinguish democratic states from authoritarian ones. And real, competitive elections differentiate so-called "hybrid democracies" from more powerful real democracies, for which elections are not just a tool for legitimizing their own rule every 4 years but a way to renew political leadership, send signals from society to politicians, and maintain civic control over whom we elect.
Finally, it is important for the electoral process to embody fair restoration.
Without transparent election rules, there will be nothing of the above, especially "fair." Elections distinguish democratic states from authoritarian ones. And real, competitive elections differentiate so-called "hybrid democracies" from more powerful real democracies, for which elections are not just a tool for legitimizing their own rule every 4 years but a way to renew political leadership, send signals from society to politicians, and maintain civic control over whom we elect.
Therefore, as banal as it may sound, elections are the basis of the democratic process and will be part of the broad demand for justice, which will be part of post-war restoration in Ukraine.
23.10.2024
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