Регулювання соціальних проблем: війна як шанс на модернізацію концептуальних підходів

Abstract

Background: Given the constant updating of social problems and changes in institutions designated to regulate them, approaches to their regulation, the whole complex of issues related to this sphere, remains constantly relevant. In the context of present-day Ukraine, which has not yet rid itself of characteristic post-Soviet notions about the nature of social problems and approaches to their regulation, this problem is particularly pressing. This requires the attention of sociologists and scientists in other fields that form the theoretical and methodological basis for social regulation. Purpose: Based on the analysis of the current situation in Ukraine, which is characterized by the predominance of the state in social regulation with the predominant use of its characteristic tool - social security, it is necessary to outline possible ways of modernizing approaches to regulating social problems. This primarily involves rethinking the current attitude towards social work in Ukrainian society and expanding the scope of application of this regulatory tool. Methods: The method involves the analysis of legislative documents related to the field of social regulation and publications by sociologists. Results: As a result of the conducted analysis, it has been established that in the current situation, the state's efforts aimed at maintaining its dominant role in regulating social problems using the instrument of social security and limiting the opportunities of civil structures, which are the main actors in the use of social work, have led to a crisis. The institutions intended for the democratic modernization of the domestic post-Soviet society, including social work, were unable to fulfill their purpose. Сonclusion: The tragedy of the war that modern Ukraine is experiencing creates certain opportunities for abandoning ineffective methods of regulating social problems. First of all, this involves limiting the state's influence in this sphere and expanding the fields of responsibility of specialized civil society organizations. It is characteristic of them to act mainly through social work methods. Such an approach will allow not only to increase the efficiency of the state by concentrating its efforts on the spheres and methods of regulation characteristic of liberal regimes, but also to increase the potential of civil society structures. This path of modernizing conceptual approaches to regulating social problems in conditions of war is marked not only by certain opportunities, such as the widespread dissemination of volunteer movements, but also by certain barriers, caused, in particular, by the traditional thinking of managers. Significant limitations include the preservation of traditional paternalistic attitudes among a significant portion of citizens, sharp reductions in their material and financial capabilities during wartime, and so on. Keywords: social regulation, social security, social work, civil society, modernization.