The essence of the concept of social inclusion of the city and its significance in ensuring the national security of the state

Abstract

Ukraine, as a country, is in the process of constant development and transformation, facing a number of important social, economic and security challenges. One of these challenges is ensuring equal opportunities and accessing the social resources for all sections of society. In this context, the concept of social inclusion comes to the fore to become an important tool for promoting the sustainable development of cities and the entire country. Social inclusion involves the creation of conditions under which every person, regardless of their origin, gender, age, physical condition or other personal characteristics, can take an active part in all spheres of society. The implementation of this approach to the development of cities is especially relevant in modern Ukraine, where there are numerous challenges in the form of lack of access to infrastructure, medical care, housing and other services for certain social groups. The implementation of the concept of social inclusion is now widely recognized as important and not just good practice. The recent impact of the global pandemic, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the Russian-Ukrainian war have further emphasized the need to implement the concept of social inclusion in the development of Ukrainian cities. Promoting the development of social inclusion in cities requires a deep understanding of its essence, the factors affecting it, and the mechanisms of public administration involved. The work determined that the theory and methodology of public management of the development of social inclusion in cities in the science of public administration is not sufficiently formed. The existing scientific works of foreign and domestic scientists testify to the existence of different approaches to public management of the development of social inclusion. The essence of social inclusion was highlighted as the creation of a fair and accessible urban environment where all people, regardless of their origin or characteristics, can actively participate in the social, economic and cultural aspects of urban life. Social inclusion emphasizes the need to overcome structural barriers, discrimination and inequality to promote inclusive cities and ensure the social security of the state.