This project examines how conflict-affected states can restore legitimacy to their institutions, focusing on Ukraine's legal system amid its ongoing war with Russia. Legitimacy of a state's institutions is crucial for overall state stability, yet Ukraine has long struggled with issues within its institutions including corruption, judicial independence, and enforcement of laws-challenges that have been further exacerbated by the 2014 and 2022 Russian invasions. These conflicts have strained Ukraine's legal system, by damaging court infrastructure, depleting legal professionals, and ultimately heightening the urgency of reform. This project first examines how institutions establish and maintain legitimacy, drawing from philosophers like Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Weber. Next, using a comparative approach, this study analyzes institutional reforms in other conflict-affected states like Tajikistan and Iraq to identify strategies that may be applicable to Ukraine. Through document analysis of Ukrainian and international reports, alongside expert interviews-including with Ukrainian legal professionals-this research assesses the strengths and weaknesses of Ukraine's current legal reforms, and aims to offer practical recommendations for rebuilding trust and legitimacy in Ukraine's legal institutions.
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