by Stanislav Romaniuk
After 11 years of war against Russia, one of the biggest and strongest armies in the world, Ukraine is still fighting for its future. After years of war, sacrifice, and resilience, the country has earned more than survival – it has earned the right to reimagine its future. Even though the situation on the battlefield remains incredibly difficult, and peace seems far away, I allowed my imagination to think:
What if Ukraine didn’t just rebuild what we lost, but built something entirely new?
What if we redefined what a state could be?
The modern state, in the form we know it, exists from the late 18 th century, when there was a move in the United States and Europe away from monarchies towards representative democracies. After roughly 300 years, this form of governance proved to be highly ineffective – constantly unstable politics, governments struggling to manage economies, and wars are still taking place all over the world. The tension rises with Russians planning a new offensive in Ukraine and potential attack in Baltics, Americans bombing Iran, and China preparing its invasion into Taiwan.
In a world that we have today, Ukraine should not only plan its renovation but also look for a new vision of governance that could transform the state and ensure a brighter future for the country. “The Synthesis” is a new vision for governance, designed not as a tweak to the old system, but as a complete reimagining. It combines an ultra-simple, digital-first economic model with a performance driven political framework. Despite being a deeply theoretical concept that needs deeper research, it is not a dream, but an achievable structure that could transform Ukraine into a pioneer of 21st century statecraft.
A New Social Contract
The core of the idea is simple – the state should operate like a high-performing, citizen-
centred company. Ministers function as top executives. Every government department has measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPI). Budgets and outcomes are visible in real time. Citizens are not treated as subjects, but as clients, shareholders, and decision
makers. Let’s explore a little more what it actually means.
Ministers function as top executives. In The Synthesis based model, government is not a collection of disconnected bureaucracies. It is unified executive structure, where each minister is selected not for political loyalty, but for competence, experience and results. Ministers are held accountable through transparent performance targets, just like corporate CEOs. It also motivates young professionals in departments to work more
efficiently and look for creative solutions, as it helps them progressing towards the top
positions in government.
Every government department has measurable KPIs. Instead of vague mandates or
symbolic programs, each agency or ministry operates with clear Key Performance
Indicators. These metrics, such as response times, economic growth in target sectors, or satisfaction with public services, should be published, tracked, and reviewed in real time. The system will provide the public with clear facts about effectiveness of each department and government as a whole. As a bonus, it will significantly limit populists and their abilities to manipulate opinions.
Budgets and outcomes are visible in real time. Citizens can monitor how money is
collected (through the Salus tax model that I will write about later in the year), and how it’s spent. This turns taxation from a burden into a shared investment. Online dashboards can display current allocations, project progress, and outcome assessments, making the process of governance radically transparent. More importantly, this visibility should drive a new fiscal culture – governments must stop living in debt. Just as households and businesses cannot sustainably operate at a loss, neither should a state. The Synthesis model encourages balanced or surplus budgeting, where positive government revenue is reinvested in technological development, innovation, and research, fuelling long-term national competitiveness.
Citizens are not treated as subjects, but as clients, shareholders, and decision
makers. Ukrainians are tired of systemic corruption, persistent lack of trust in politicians, and an economy that consistently underperforms. Therefore, a model that gives them true influence and tangible feedback is no longer optional – it is essential. In The Synthesis, every Ukrainian is a co-owner of the national project. This means more than voting every few years. It includes the right to participate in local budgeting, community planning, public project design, and policy consultation via streamlined digital tools.
Education becomes a foundation of political culture. A functioning democracy requires more than institutions; it needs informed participants. That is why The Synthesis model incorporates civic education into every stage of life, from school curriculum to public digital learning modules. Moreover, we must fundamentally rethink our approach to education itself. Instead of chasing grades or credentials, students should be encouraged to hunt for knowledge – to ask better questions, not just give the right answers. Content should be engaging, dynamic, and relevant, showing young people that their role in the community matters today, rather than someday in the future. When students feel empowered and connected to their society now, they become citizens who act with purpose later.
Decentralisation. Under The Synthesis model, national government focuses on long-term strategy, foreign issues, and defence, while empowered local governments handle
services and infrastructure. This decentralisation allows for faster and more informed
decision making on the ground. Local authorities are better equipped to understand their communities’ needs and can respond to infrastructural issues with speed and precision, without having to wait years, or even decades, for approval and funding from a distant capital. This dramatically increases the efficiency and responsiveness of public projects, from road repairs to energy systems to healthcare facilities.
At the same time, digital tools enable direct democratic participation, giving every citizen a voice beyond election day. Through secure online platforms, people can vote on local initiatives, track public spending, provide feedback, and even propose community projects. This not only increases transparency and trust but also strengthens civic engagement by making governance feel immediate, personal, and participatory.
The Tax System That Collects Itself
The Salus economic model replaces the current tax maze with one clear rule – a small, flat tax (e.g., 5-15%) applied automatically to incoming financial transactions. Banks collect and remit the tax in real time. There is no need for audits, declarations, loopholes, or tax evasion.
This is not just efficient, it’s transformative. It brings the entire economy out of the
shadows. It eliminates bureaucracy. It makes tax compliance automatic, invisible, and fair.
Most importantly, it realigns the citizen-state relationship – people pay what they owe and see where it goes.
I will write a separate article about Salus, revealing and explaining it further.
Why Ukraine?
Because no other country today combines the same level of urgency, digital maturity, and societal determination. Ukraine has:
- A tech-savvy population and platforms like Diia already in place.
- Deep public distrust of the pre-war bureaucracy.
- A moment of postwar restructuring unlike any country in modern European history.
- A generation of young people shaped by war, responsibility, and innovation.
But even beyond infrastructure and technology, Ukrainian society possesses something
intangible, yet vital – a spirit. A spirit forged in defiance, perseverance, and solidarity. A
spirit that is uniquely open to radical, even unprecedented solutions. Ukrainians are not
asking for a return to normal, they are demanding something better. Something smarter.
Something worthy of the sacrifices that have been made. And that is the basic minimum.
This is not just an opportunity. It’s a necessity. The old system will not survive the new
reality.
Conclusion
Ukraine stands at a rare historical threshold, equipped with digital infrastructure, social
momentum, and a resilient national identity forged in adversity. Despite the need of a
deeper research and development, The Synthesis and Salus model is not a speculative
theory, but a comprehensive response to longstanding inefficiencies and injustices in the political and economic architecture.
This is not just a new system. It is a new relationship between citizens and their country – one rooted in clarity, fairness, and co-creation.
By embracing simplicity, transparency, decentralisation, and civic empowerment, Ukraine
can craft a governance model suitable for the 21 st century – one that not only serves its people better but also offers a blueprint for nations seeking renewal after crisis.
The future is not inherited. It is designed.
Society of European Future 