SOCIAL CONTRACT IN THE WAR AND POST-WAR PERIOD: BALANCE OF BUDGET SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY SECURITY AND PUBLIC TRUST IN UKRAINE

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of the social contract in Ukraine during the wartime period and explores its potential adaptation in the post-war context. In light of the deep socio-political crisis caused by the full-scale invasion, the author argues that the traditional model of interaction between the state and citizens–based on centralized decision-making and limited public participation–has exhausted its capacity. The study demonstrates that a new model of social contract is emerging, one that is grounded in partnership, transparency, accountability, and active citizen involvement in governance processes. The focus is placed on three core components of public policy: budgetary resilience, energy security, and public trust.The article offers a critical review of governance practices under martial conditions, particularly examining the state’s responses to challenges in social protection, the financial provision of basic needs, support for local communities, and the development of decentralized energy infrastructure. It is shown that during the war, the most effective responses came from local self-government bodies and horizontal forms of civic mobilization, which significantly contributed to the growth of institutional trust. The article emphasizes the importance of shifting from a declarative understanding of the social contract to a functional one–as a dynamic mechanism of interaction between the state and society.The study proposes a generalized classification of the evolutionary stages of the social contract in Ukraine: pre-war, wartime, and post-war. This framework allows for tracking changes in national policy priorities, resource allocation mechanisms, and governance approaches. Particular attention is paid to the issues of community energy autonomy, transparency in the budgeting process, the role of international aid, and civic oversight as drivers of sustainable development. It is concluded that in the post-war period, the presence of an effective, just, and accountable social contract will be a prerequisite for maintaining political stability, rebuilding infrastructure, and enhancing the legitimacy of public authority. The proposed model of social interaction could become the foundation for building an institutionally mature and strategically oriented system of public administration in Ukraine.