LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN WARTIME: CURRENT CHALLENGES TO INSTITUTIONAL RESILIENCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of how local self-government functions under martial law through the lens of institutional resilience, human resource capacity, and the financial support of territorial communities, as well as to identify the key challenges in this area and the main directions for addressing them in the context of a prolonged war.

The study is based on a systemic, institutional, and comparative approach, along with methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, and interpretation of scholarly sources. This methodological combination made it possible to examine, in a balanced and coherent way, the transformation of local self-government during wartime and to trace the interconnection between its institutional, кадрові, and financial dimensions. In other words, it allowed the issue to be considered not in isolation, but as a living and dynamic system operating under constant pressure.

The findings show that, in wartime, local self-government is no longer limited to its traditional administrative role. It increasingly becomes one of the key pillars of national resilience, taking on expanded responsibilities in the spheres of security, humanitarian response, and the maintenance of everyday life in communities. The study demonstrates that institutional resilience depends to a large extent on the ability to adapt quickly, remain administratively flexible, and sustain effective cooperation with both state bodies and civil society institutions.

It is also established that the human resource capacity of local self-government is undergoing substantial losses and deep transformation, while financial support is shaped by changes in revenue structures, rising expenditure burdens, and growing interterritorial disparities. These processes make the work of local authorities considerably more difficult, yet at the same time they highlight how important the local level has become in ensuring stability under conditions of war.

The article substantiates that the effectiveness of local self-government under martial law depends on the combination of institutional adaptability, personnel resilience, and financial flexibility. Particular attention is paid to the need to improve mechanisms of multilevel interaction, develop the crisis-related competencies of staff, build a sustainable personnel reserve, and enhance the efficiency of financial resource management. All of these are presented not merely as administrative tasks, but as necessary preconditions for strengthening the resilience of territorial communities and supporting their capacity for post-war recovery.

Keywords: local self-government, martial law, institutional resilience, territorial communities, public policy, human resource capacity, financial support, budget policy, intergovernmental transfers, state support, humanitarian response, digitalization of governance.