COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION PROCESS AFTER INTRODUCTION OF MARTIAL LAW IN UKRAINE

Abstract

This article describes the results of research on the mobilization process of Ukrainian communities after introduction of martial law. This article characterizes the specifics of community mobilization within the framework of the approach "Community Resilience Interventions". Based on an analysis of relevant literature, the stages in the development of community resilience are identified as: 1) disruption of community functioning; 2) identification and assessment of community needs and resources; 3) skill development to promote and sustain resilience; and 4) restoration of community functioning. The study involved personal interviews with representatives of territorial communities from three regions of Ukraine. All had participated in this author's previous research on the topic. Five interviews were conducted in May and June of 2022. The purpose of the interviews was to identify what factors influenced a community's success at each of the stages, either to help or hinder the community mobilization process. The article reports the study respondents' own experiences in community mobilization in the four identified stages. The study findings give us reasons to conclude that commynity mobilization in emergency situations typically begins as an immediate community response to an emergent critical situation. However, each community's capacity to respond proactively depends on several factors that include: the geographic location of the community; the availability of resources to sustain the community in times of stress; the community's capacity to manage the resources available to them; the previous experience and skills of community members in coping with similar challenges; and the strength and stability of the community's social infrastructure in times of rapid change. The study identified the factors most likely to promote community mobilization in emergent crises, including: having a common goal; the effectiveness of leadership of local authorities; the degree of participation by community members; the degree of social support; and the prior experience of the community in solving challenging social problems.