INTERNATIONAL APPROACHES TO PREVENTING COLLABORATIONISM: LESSONS FOR STRENGTHENING UKRAINE’S NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

In the context of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the problem of collaborationism has become particularly acute, turning into a serious threat to internal stability, civil unity and national security. Existing approaches to preventing collaborationism in the Ukrainian legal field remain fragmentary and mainly repressive, while international experience demonstrates the need for a comprehensive approach that combines legal, institutional, informational and humanitarian instruments. In this regard, there is a need for a critical analysis of foreign practices to form a balanced and effective model of countering collaborationism in Ukraine. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to analyze international approaches to preventing collaborationism, identify their strengths and limitations, and formulate practical recommendations on the basis of this to improve the state policy of Ukraine in the field of national security. Methods. The study used a combination of general scientific and special methods, in particular: system analysis – to study the regulatory and legal mechanisms for countering collaborationism; comparative method – to compare the approaches of different countries (France, Israel, Estonia, South Korea); institutional analysis – to assess the effectiveness of the involved state policy actors; content analysis – to analyze the information component of collaborationism. Results. The study found that effective countering collaborationism in international practice is based on a combination of preventive measures, legal certainty in the formulation of the elements of crimes, transparent procedures for bringing to justice and reintegration programs. It was determined that critical factors for increasing the stability of the state are information security, the development of patriotic consciousness, and the creation of an analytical infrastructure for identifying threats. Recommendations are formulated for adapting international experience into Ukrainian policy, including the need to update legislation, develop educational programs, and strengthen information sovereignty. Conclusions. Collaborationism is a complex socio-legal category that requires systematic understanding in the context of modern security challenges. Ukraine has the potential to form an effective policy to counter this phenomenon, but this requires harmonization of the regulatory framework, strengthening institutional capacity, and the introduction of interdisciplinary approaches involving the best international practices. Prospects for further research lie in a deeper analysis of the practical implementation of the proposed measures and their impact on the level of national security in the short and medium term.