CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2022
| Author | Chermnykh, Oleksandr |
|---|---|
| Title | Maintaining State Legitimacy through the Provision of Electronic Services: the Case of Ukraine in the Context of the Russian Invasion of 2022 |
| Summary | The provision of basic public services is a key way for fragile states to maintain the loyalty of their population and, accordingly, their legitimacy. Traditional efforts have focused on the provision of services in person; but in a moment of conflict and upheaval, how can the state continue to provide them? The current situation in Ukraine provides an opportunity to study an innovation in the provision of services: the use of e-government tools. In the context of the Russian invasion of 2022, Ukraine lost part of its territories, as well as the ability to exercise its authority in these areas. Additionally, Ukraine was forced to help many displaced persons both within Ukraine and abroad who had lost contact with local authorities. The Ukrainian state responded very quickly to these challenges and, through the Ministry of Digital Transformation, provided a number of electronic solutions. Through the Diia application, which gives Ukrainians access to identification documents, financial assistance, damaged property reporting, donation, crowdsourced intelligence efforts, and Ukrainian radio and TV broadcasts, Ukraine has attempted to maintain legitimacy in a turbulent time. This thesis builds a theoretical framework through the concepts of legitimacy, sovereignty, and state power, engages with the cases of other fragile states, and examines how Ukrainians use these services and, accordingly, how it impacts their view of the state. According to the interviews of Ukrainians displaced by the conflict collected for this work, the application has been received positively. Innovative electronic services not only make their lives more comfortable, but also make them feel proud and strengthen their faith in Ukraine. This belief is very complex and comes both from feelings of patriotism and attachment to their native places, as well as a sense of support in extreme conditions. |
| Supervisor | Inna Melnykovska |
| Department | Public Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2022/chermnykh_oleksandr.pdf |
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