Public Authority in Ukraine Under Martial Law and Terrorist Threats: A Political-Technological Dimension

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of the functioning of public authority in Ukraine under the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The focus is placed on the issues of governance technologies during wartime. The purpose of the article is to identify the specific features of political technologies in the activities of public authority in Ukraine under martial law and terrorist threats.

The theoretical and methodological foundations of the study are based on general scientific methods of cognition in the analysis of public authority in Ukraine, in particular: comparative, analytical, empirical, and descriptive methods. The research methods are also grounded in the principles of systemic, historical, and structural-functional analysis.

As a result of the study, it has been established that under martial law, local self-government bodies are partially limited in their functions. It is noted that the decentralization reform played a positive role during the period of full-scale invasion of Ukraine: the self-organization of the population in local communities contributed to an effective response to the Russian aggressor.

The article examines the relationship between the state and society in wartime, as well as the interconnection between national and state security. Under martial law, there is a noticeable rollback of democratic practices and a narrowing of individual democratic rights and freedoms.

It is stated that terrorist activity and the constant generation of terrorist threats against Ukraine have become a hallmark of the current Russian ruling elite, which presents the political system of Russia as a terrorist state.

The article explores the specifics of governance technologies and political leadership technologies in wartime conditions. Ruling elites always strive to be trusted by those they govern. The category of trust is key to understanding the essence of governance technologies. In order to build trust, political leaders must continuously explain to society the rationale behind their strategic decisions. Representatives of the ruling elite cannot form a positive personal brand without effective communication with the public. Attention is focused on theories of political branding.