The impact of social capital on social cohesion in the restoration of territorial communities

Social capital is a key factor in ensuring the resilience and effectiveness of territorial communities, especially during an armed conflict. The aim of the article is to assess the impact of social capital on the formation of social cohesion and the restoration of territorial communities in Ukraine in wartime. The research methodology is based on a multidimensional analysis of financial, social and economic factors that affect community development. The research employs spatial damage analysis to integrate economic and geospatial data, ANOVA to assess differences in social cohesion across regions, multidimensional scaling (MDS) to visualize changes in social capital indicators, and regression analysis to quantify the impact of civic engagement and cohesion on social capital. The research outlines key components of social capital, including community cohesion, civic engagement, community pride, and trust in government. The results of the study demonstrate that social cohesion, enhanced by decentralization and interregional cooperation, has become the foundation for the recovery of territorial communities even in difficult economic conditions. The practical significance of the study is the possibility of applying the obtained results to develop programmes to improve the efficiency of local governance and implement strategies aimed at strengthening social capital for long-term community recovery. Further research may focus on integrating European approaches to decentralization and involving citizens in governance processes.