Research Project: Social Cohesion in Ukraine During Prolonged War and Conflict
How does prolonged war affect trust, social relations, and institutional resilience? In Ukraine, years of armed conflict have reshaped communities and institutions in ways that will influence both wartime stability and long-term recovery. This research project examines how the intensity and duration of conflict affect social cohesion, with particular attention to returning veterans and Internally Displaced People (IDPs), as well as trust in formal institutions and civil society organizations.
As displacement increases and combatants return to civilian life, local communities face new social pressures and changing expectations. Understanding how trust, inclusion, and perceptions of fairness evolve under sustained conflict is essential for supporting democratic governance and preventing further fragmentation. The project also examines how local power dynamics, including the presence of organized criminal groups, may influence social cohesion during wartime.
While social cohesion has received growing attention in conflict research, fewer studies have examined how prolonged active warfare, internal displacement, and evolving local dynamics interact over time. This project addresses that gap by analysing how social cohesion develops as conflict continues and intensifies, and how different regions may experience these changes differently.
Methodology
Launched in 2025, the 36-month project adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining survey, in-depth interviews, desk research, and analysis of existing datasets, including the European Value Survey and UNDP databases. Local researchers from diverse regions of Ukraine contribute contextual knowledge and field-based insights, ensuring sensitivity to regional variation and lived experience.
Policy Relevance and Outputs
The findings will strengthen both policy and scholarly understanding of social cohesion in prolonged conflict settings. The project will generate evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and practitioners working in peacebuilding, reconciliation, democratic governance, and conflict prevention. The research will contribute to FBA’s regional strategies concerning Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and the MENA region, particularly in relation to institutional trust and societal resilience.
Results will be disseminated through academic publications, policy reports, and targeted briefings for relevant stakeholders, ensuring accessibility for both academic and non-academic audiences.
The research team
The project is led by Dr. Abdalhadi M. Alijla, Senior Researcher at FBA, who serves as Principal Investigator.