Project
"Social Contract for Ukraine"

Since the spring of 2022, the Aspen Institute Kyiv has supported a dialogue of leaders dedicated to a social contract for Ukraine. Agreeing on a vision of the future and discussing key topics around which society will unite is essential to our shared struggle for Independence and the right to choose our path.

Project goals and objectives

Finding consensus/defining common values

Sustainable development and war

Shared vision of the future

Project Results (as of December 2023)

seminars online

seminars inperson

public events

around300

participants in all events

Leaders from various fields: business, public sector, science, culture, education, civil service, local government, media.

Collection of essays “(Re)thinking the Social Contract”

The Aspen Institute Kyiv has compiled a collection of essays by leading Ukrainian thinkers for the participants of the seminars "(Re)thinking the social contract for Ukraine." With this collection, the Institute promotes the discussion of ideas related to the concept of the social contract, its general and specific features relevant to individual sectors and society itself.

Download the collection

Report after the discussion of the project "In Search of a Social Contract"

Taras Lyuty, Professor at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NaUKMA, systematized the results of the leaders' discussions "In Search of a Social Contract." The author identified common points of agreement among the leaders who participated in the dialogues on a social contract: national unity around achieving victory, prioritization of security, respect for human rights, inclusivity, etc. At the same time, there are also points of disagreement and silence — topics that are reluctantly or not discussed.

Read report

Reflections of dialogue participants

Top 5 points of the social contract on which participants agree

Unity and mutual trust/responsibility of the state and citizens

Independence, territorial integrity (protection from Russian encroachment, punishment of the aggressor), global support, recognition of the Ukrainian government and the Constitution

Human and national security (defense and international relations), European integration, NATO

Freedom, dignity, right to choose, competition

Full inclusion at all levels: accessibility and quality of services, equal access to quality education, an independent and fair judiciary, and the rule of law.

Top 5 points of the social contract that are subject to public debate