THE POLITICAL DIMENSION OF UKRAINE'S ECONOMIC SECURITY: OLIGARCHISATION, MEDIA INFLUENCE AND POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Abstract

The article examines political institutions as a key factor in shaping the economic security of the state in the context of global transformations and internal challenges facing Ukraine. It is argued that economic security has a distinct political character, as it depends not only on financial and economic parameters, but also on the quality of political governance, the legitimacy of power and the stability of institutions. The methodological basis is provided by institutional and neo-institutional approaches that combine political and economic analysis. An analysis of political and economic decisions, content analysis of the media, and a study of anti-corruption practices were used, which made it possible to reconstruct the real mechanisms of influence of political actors on the economy. It has been established that the state plays a leading role in the economic security system, especially in conditions of war, sanctions pressure and global instability. At the same time, it has been found that Ukrainian political institutions are significantly dependent on oligarchic groups, which, through their resources and media control, influence the distribution of economic decisions and limit the autonomy of state policy. The phenomenon of oligarchisation has been analysed, which, while restraining the monopolisation of power, simultaneously increases corruption risks and reduces the transparency of decisions. It has been shown that the transnationalisation of business elites strengthens the structural dependence of the state and complicates the formation of strategic economic decisions. The role of the media as a component of economic security is examined. Independent media act as an instrument of control over power, as confirmed by the example of the coverage of the ‘Mindich tapes,’ which demonstrated the ability of the information space to influence political integrity. On the other hand, the concentration of media ownership in the hands of oligarchs creates threats of manipulation of public opinion. The conclusions prove that economic security is a product of the interaction between political institutions, the market and public control. Its level is determined by political responsibility, trust and the legitimacy of the authorities. The need to strengthen democratic institutions, media independence and government accountability as prerequisites for the formation of a sustainable economic system in Ukraine is emphasised.