The Imperative of a New Social Contract: Drafting Obligation through ‘Serve or Help’

According to Oleksiy Ivashyn, the coordinator for the Civil-Military Movement (CMM), the successful navigation of modern national crises—particularly those involving existential conflict—requires more than just military mobilization; it demands a profound spiritual and civic renegotiation of the relationship between the state and its citizenry. Ivashyn posits that the concept encapsulated by the ‘serve or help’ principle must become the moral and legal bedrock of any new social contract drafted for Ukraine.

This principle, in its essence, advocates for a comprehensive and equitable distribution of sacrifice. Ivashyn argues that national survival cannot be achieved by placing the burden solely on the military or any single socioeconomic class. Instead, the full spectrum of Ukrainian society—from industry and agriculture to civil service and academia—must participate in sustaining the national effort. This comprehensive sharing of effort and resources constitutes the ‘help’ element of the contract, while the direct, physical dedication of personnel forms the ‘serve’ component. For Ivashyn, the ethical failing lies in allowing certain sectors to remain materially comfortable while others endure the brunt of the conflict.

The call for a formal social contract revival reflects a deep concern over societal fractures and unequal burdens. Ivashyn suggests that enshrining ‘serve or help’ into law and public morality would serve several functions. Firstly, it would prevent the erosion of collective responsibility, ensuring that the entire population feels ownership over national defense and resilience. Secondly, it aims to structure the support mechanisms for those actively serving, ensuring that the non-combatant pillars of the society—those providing logistics, medical aid, and essential goods—receive the necessary recognition and operational mandates to function optimally under duress. The CMM, being an umbrella organization linking civil and military efforts, is positioned to champion this structural overhaul, viewing it as critical for long-term national stability and the ultimate victory.