VOLUNTARY RESERVE AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR SOCIAL COHESION AND EXTENDED NATIONAL RESILIENCE IN THE BLACK SEA REGION
VOLUNTARY RESERVE AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR SOCIAL COHESION AND EXTENDED NATIONAL RESILIENCE IN THE BLACK SEA REGION

Author(s): Elena-Adriana BRUMARU
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Security and defense, Military policy, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Carol I National Defence University Publishing House
Keywords: Voluntary Reserve; Social cohesion; Civil Defence; Black Sea Security; Resilience; Law 5/2026; Hybrid Warfare; The whole society; NATO MC 0441/3.
Summary/Abstract: In the contemporary security environment of the Black Sea region, characterised by extreme volatility, hybrid warfare and the persistent threat of a high-intensity conflict, the traditional paradigms of national defence are undergoing a fundamental transformation. As the Euro-Atlantic community navigates the complex geopolitical landscape of 2026, the concept of resilience has gone beyond military reinforcement to adopt a comprehensive “Whole-of-Society” approach. This article provides an exhaustive analysis of the voluntary reserve as an essential tool for promoting social cohesion and improving Extended National Resilience capabilities. Anchored in the legislative progress of Law no. 5/2026 of Romania and aligned with the strategic imperatives of NATO’s policy MC 0441/3 and the European Union Strategy for Preparedness, the research argues that a modernised voluntary reserve serves as a critical link between the armed forces and the civilian population. Through a multidimensional examination of threat vectors - from cognitive subversion to critical infrastructure sabotage - and a comparative analysis of reserve models in Ukraine, Turkey, and Bulgaria, this report demonstrates that voluntary reserve is not just a force multiplier for combat operations, but a strategic necessity for democratic stability. By transforming citizens from passive consumers of security into active producers of defence, the voluntary reserve mitigates the vulnerabilities of societal polarisation and infrastructural fragility, thereby strengthening the “Extended National Resilience” (also known in NATO terminology as “multi-layered resilience”) needed to withstand the systemic shocks of the 21st century.

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