Місце соціальної функції держави в системі функцій держави

Abstract

This article examines the position of the social function of the state within the contemporary state’s system of functions. Through a critical analysis of the essential content of the modern state’s social function, several defining characteristics are identified. These include its regulation and determination by current legislation, as well as its role as a systematic and purposeful influence – primarily on the part of public authorities – on social relations and their participants in the social field. Additionally, the social function relates directly to the state’s socially oriented tasks and exhibits a dynamic presence in objective reality, achieved through implementation by a designated range of actors. It is further noted that the dynamic expression of this function becomes objectified through specific forms, methods, and means of taking action and making managerial decisions in the social domain. In light of these considerations, the author concludes that, within the modern conceptual framework of categorizing state functions into primary and supplementary, the precise position of the social function depends on the state’s current stage of development. In a modern, progressive welfare state, the social function emerges as the principal function, influencing all other functions – both primary and secondary – of such a state. However, the article highlights significant challenges in determining the place of the social function in contemporary Ukraine. While the Constitution formally proclaims Ukraine as a welfare state, the country cannot fully align with the attributes of a modern, progressive welfare state. To address this ambiguity, it is recommended to consider the dynamics of irreversible “desocialization” in state policy observed over the past decade, as well as the concurrent expansion of state influence in the social domain. In conclusion, although the social function is formally recognized as one of the state’s leading functions, in practice – specifically within the Ukrainian context – its actual position in the state’s functional hierarchy remains secondary to such functions as defense, law enforcement, and economic functions.