I have travelled here (to Atlanta- ed.) from Kyiv, where I am a human rights lawyer. For many years I have been applying the law to defend people and human dignity. Now I am in a situation where the law does not work. Russian troops are destroying residential buildings, churches, museums, schools, and hospitals. They…
While Ukrainian citizens’ resistance has surprised the world, it has not been seen as a miracle by Ukrainians themselves, who since 2014 have been involved in volunteer movements and knew well what aggression means. Despite the inevitable concentration of power during the war-time martial law, there is a widespread belief among Ukrainian experts that there…
This article delves into the landscape of checks and balances within democratic societies, emphasising their pivotal role in maintaining democratic values and countering emerging challenges. As the foundations of democratic governance face pressures from polarisation and populist trends, the study investigates the weaknesses of the contemporary checks and balances, and explores the optimal strategies for…
In recent decades, democratic societies have faced both internal and external threats that have caused them to struggle. Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia’s interference in the Brexit vote and the U.S. elections – these are some of the challenges modern democracies are facing these days. The effectiveness of democracy is…
The article will stress the price which Ukraine had to pay for its democratic choice. It also argues that the war has become a test of Western democracy, since the Russian invasion not only breached the Russo-Ukrainian treaty of 1997 and the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, but also undermined the foundations of the world order…
This article aims to highlight the consequences Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have for democracy in the world. It also addresses the issues of the completely different paradigms of social development in Ukraine, where society has shown striking self-organising abilities to repel the enemy and provide assistance and support to those who have got into…
Despite the low level of trust in the political leadership and state institutions, Ukrainians have demonstrated strong civic consciousness and consolidation, which have played a crucial role in repelling the full-scale Russian invasion. Although the Ukrainian public remains susceptible to populism, the scale of volunteer activities, national unity, dedication to freedom and understanding of the…
The 2009 Treaty of Lisbon introduced a concept known as the “Common Security and Defence Policy” to the legal structures of the European Union. While not initially envisioned as a military pact, the Treaty of Lisbon saw the expansion of the EU’s policy purview and laid the groundwork for the European Union to act as…
This article seeks to dissect the contemporary developments surrounding the concept of ‘strategic competition’ by examining the outcomes of two successive NATO summits in Madrid and Vilnius. During these summits, the Allies not only exhibited a unified front in their support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia but also reaffirmed their commitment to honour mutual…
With the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has made digital transformation and technologies one of the pillars of its resilience and strength. Digital integration is an area where Ukraine has already achieved significant progress. Ukraine’s practical experience of introducing digital technologies is highly valued by the EU, while Ukraine follows the implementation of the European regulations…
