ON MERITOCRACY AS AN ELEMENT OF REFORMING THE SECURITY AND DEFENCE SECTOR

Abstract

The article examines meritocracy as a key principle in reforming the security and defence sector of Ukraine in the context of Euro-Atlantic integration and the transformation of the national security system. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to enhance the effectiveness of the activities of the Security Service of Ukraine under conditions of hybrid threats, martial law, and increasing requirements for the professional training of personnel. The purpose of the research is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the role of the meritocratic model in shaping modern personnel policy and the educational system for training specialists in the security and defence sector, particularly within the context of the activities of the Security Service of Ukraine. The study considers the theoretical foundations of meritocracy. It analyses the specific features of implementing meritocratic approaches within departmental education. Particular attention is devoted to the role of academic and teaching staff. An important outcome of the research is the substantiation of the interrelationship between meritocracy and gender policy in the security and defence sector. It is demonstrated that the integration of a gender perspective does not contradict the meritocratic approach but rather serves as its institutional reinforcement. The conclusions emphasise that the effective implementation of the meritocratic model constitutes a necessary condition for the modernisation of the security and defence sector of Ukraine.