DOI: 10.46340/eppd.2026.13.1.2
Olena Chaltseva, D.Sc. in Political Science
Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University
How to cite: Chaltseva, О. (2026). Ambidexterity Strategy in the Transformation of Political Institutions Under Conditions of Uncertainty. Evropský politický a právní diskurz, 13, 1, 23-29. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2026.13.1.2
Abstract
The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations of adapting political institutions to conditions of permanent turbulence and aggressive uncertainty. The relevance of the work is determined by the inability of traditional hierarchical models of political system management to respond effectively to the ‘uncontrollably complex’ and unpredictable challenges of modernity.
The article applies a polyparadigmatic approach that synthesises the achievements of neo-institutionalism, adaptive governance theory, and «organisational ambidexterity». The work analyses the phenomenon of path dependence and the emergence of «institutional traps» that block the democratic development of the political system. Using the example of Central and Eastern European countries and Ukraine, the risks of democratic backsliding and imitative institutionalisation are demonstrated, where formal norms are not filled with real content due to weak political culture, external shocks, corruption, and other factors.
Particular attention is paid to the Ukrainian context in the context of war, which is characterised by «double institutionalisation» and the threat of further personalisation of power. As a mechanism for overcoming crises and «democratic backsliding», the concept of institutional ambidexterity is proposed as the ability of the political system to simultaneously combine the processes of «exploitation» (using traditional existing procedures) and «exploration» (introducing flexible innovations into management processes).
It is concluded that institutional flexibility and the ability to adapt to a changing and unpredictable environment, based on shared democratic values and partnership with civil society, are the key to preserving the state’s subjectivity in the face of existential and utilitarian external threats and internal crises. The article hypothesises that a system built on the principles of ambidexterity is capable of effectively reforming (and even fighting) simultaneously, ensuring the transition from imitation to real quality in public policy.
Keywords: political institutions, adaptive governance, institutional traps, path dependence, ambidexterity, public policy, political system, transformation.
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