Democracy perception in wartime in Ukraine as an indicator of the democratic transformation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61345/1339-7915.2026.1.6Keywords:
democracy, martial law, constitutional law, democratic values, human rights, constitutional order, perception of democracy, democracy perception as an indicator of democratic transformation, UkraineAbstract
The article is devoted to examining the impact of war on the transformation of democratic perception in Ukrainian society through the prism of legal analysis. The full-scale armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine has led to significant changes in the functioning of state institutions, the mechanisms for the implementation of human rights and freedoms, and the public understanding of democratic values. Under these circumstances, a reassessment of the role of the constitutional principles such as democracy, the rule of law, popular sovereignty, and guarantees of human rights acquires particular significance. The aim of the article is to analyze democracy perception as a precondition for democratic transformation. Based on this analysis, the markers of the transformation process within the context of the constitutional and legal foundations of the state’s functioning are revealed. The impact of the legal regime of martial law on the implementation of democratic procedures, the activities of public authorities, and the balance between ensuring national security and safeguarding constitutional human rights and freedoms are highlighted.
The research is based on a mixed-methods design. Transformation peculiarities of public perception of democracy and its multi-facets are looked into through the data of sociological surveys (quantitative component), as well as doctrinal analysis of regulatory framework and case law in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
It is concluded that the war has become not only an indicator of limiting certain democratic procedures, but also a catalyst for rethinking democratic values and constitutional principles within society. The constitutional and legal dimension of this process lies in the search for an optimal balance between the need for the effective functioning of public authorities under martial law and the preservation of the fundamental principles of the democratic constitutional order.
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