THE ROLE OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN SHAPING UKRAINE’S INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL UNDER CONDITIONS OF POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

The article examines the role of the agricultural sector in shaping Ukraine’s institutional development model under conditions of post-war reconstruction and European integration. The relevance of the topic is determined by the strategic importance of agriculture for economic resilience, rural recovery, food security, and regulatory adaptation to the European Union. The study aims to identify how the structure of the agricultural sector influences broader state-building choices in the period of reconstruction and integration. The methodological basis combines the institutional approach, structural and functional analysis, comparative analysis, and generalization of analytical and statistical materials. The study demonstrates that Ukrainian agriculture should be understood not only as an export-oriented branch of the economy, but also as a sphere where property relations, land governance, social stability, environmental regulation, public support mechanisms, and integration into European markets intersect. The results show that post-war reconstruction will inevitably involve a strategic choice between different models of sectoral development: a concentration-oriented model based on large export-driven corporate structures, and a more balanced model centered on family farming, support for rural communities, diversification, and long-term sustainability. It is argued that this choice will have consequences far beyond agriculture, because it will influence the future distribution of resources, the configuration of state support, the resilience of rural territories, and the institutional balance between efficiency, competitiveness, and social inclusion. Particular attention is given to the role of European integration as a driver of institutional transformation. Alignment with EU standards, implementation of the acquis communautaire, access to the common market, and prospective participation in the Common Agricultural Policy are presented as factors that will reshape the principles of governance in the agrarian sphere. At the same time, the study emphasizes that adaptation to EU requirements should not be reduced to formal legislative changes; it must be accompanied by the creation of effective administrative capacity and by a reconstruction strategy that reflects national development priorities. The practical value of the article lies in substantiating the need to treat the agricultural sector as one of the core arenas of institutional design in post-war Ukraine and in highlighting the policy alternatives that should be considered when shaping a resilient, socially balanced, and European-oriented development model.