LEADERSHIP IN WARTIME AND POST-CRISIS ECONOMIES: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Introduction. Military conflicts and large-scale crises are among the most powerful factors in the transformation of economic and social processes. They cause the destruction of production chains, changes in economic behavior models, increased social tension and distrust of institutions. In such conditions, leadership acquires special importance, which goes beyond the boundaries of classical managerial functions and appears as a social factor in maintaining the economic viability of society.

Methods. The methodological basis of the article is a set of general scientific, sociological and interdisciplinary research methods. The work uses analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systemic and structural-functional approaches to reveal the role of leadership in wartime and post-crisis economies. Sociological and institutional analysis is used to identify the impact of leadership practices on economic behavior, the level of trust and social stability. The comparative approach, scenario analysis, and case study method allowed us to assess the transformation of leadership models depending on the crisis and recovery phases.

Results. It is proven that leadership in wartime and post-crisis economies plays a system-forming role in stabilizing economic behavior and ensuring the resilience of socio-economic systems. Its effectiveness is based on a combination of management decisions with social trust, legitimacy and inclusiveness, which allows reducing uncertainty and mitigating the consequences of crises. In the strategic dimension, leadership is a key factor in transforming crisis experience into prerequisites for sustainable post-crisis development and institutional renewal of the economy.

Discussion. Prospects for further research should be linked to an in-depth empirical analysis of leadership practices in wartime and post-crisis economies using sociological surveys, statistical indicators and comparative cross-sectoral approaches. Particular attention should be paid to studying the impact of trust, legitimacy and communication strategies of leaders on economic resilience, investment expectations and the recovery of business activity. Further development of the topic also involves the integration of institutional and behavioral approaches to assess the role of leadership in the formation of sustainable models of economic development in conditions of prolonged instability.