The journal Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research proudly presents its latest special issue, “Resilience, Resistance, Responsibility: Ukraine’s Societal Response to War.”
This timely volume brings together cutting-edge research on Ukraine’s extraordinary experience of adaptation, mobilization, and transformation in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion. It positions Ukraine as a critical site for understanding how democratic societies withstand existential threats, reconfigure civic life, and activate institutional and grassroots resilience under conditions of war.
Set against one of the most consequential conflicts in modern European history, Ukraine has become a compelling case study of civic strength, institutional flexibility, and democratic agency under fire. Drawing on both theoretical insights and rich empirical data, this issue shows how resilience in wartime extends beyond survival—encompassing innovation, moral responsibility, bottom-up resistance, and a profound redefinition of national identity.
With contributions from interdisciplinary scholars, the volume offers insights into three interrelated dimensions of wartime resilience:
- Institutional adaptability – how state, education, and governance systems function under extreme duress;
- Socio-cultural transformation – shifts in national identity, public values, and historical memory;
- Civic agency – grassroots activism, volunteerism, and nonviolent resistance that sustain democratic life.
These studies reveal Ukraine’s ongoing struggle not only for survival, but for democratic renewal and civic innovation. By linking Ukrainian experience with broader global patterns, the issue offers urgent lessons on building societal resilience amid crisis, authoritarianism, and war.
This special issue is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and anyone concerned with how societies persist and transform under pressure.
Cover: Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research