Political mediation in wartime as a mechanism for restoring trust between society and the state

Abstract

The article examines political mediation in wartime as a key mechanism for restoring trust between the state and society. Armed conflict intensifies social tensions and increases the number of public disputes, making it essential to introduce balanced, effective instruments for conflict resolution within the public governance system. The study demonstrates that political mediation, based on the principles of voluntariness, confidentiality, the mediator's neutrality, party self-determination, and equality among participants, creates a communicative environment in which disagreements can be resolved constructively without escalation or coercion. The article analyzes international experience, particularly within EU member states and North America, where alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are widely used to increase the efficiency of public administration and strengthen the rule of law. Special attention is given to the specifics of the Ukrainian context, including the adoption of the Law of Ukraine «On Mediation», existing administrative review procedures, the role of the Ombudsperson, and the possibility of reaching settlement agreements within judicial proceedings. The findings indicate that mediation in the public sphere contributes to transparency, reduces corruption risks, promotes communication between public authorities and citizens, and increases institutional trust under conditions of war. It is argued that political mediation can serve as an institutional stabilizer by balancing the parties' interests and preventing further escalation of social conflicts. The article concludes that political mediation has significant potential for strengthening resilience and democratic governance during wartime. Future research should focus on developing models of political mediation adapted to the conditions of martial law and on integrating dialogue-based tools into the public administration system.