This research examines the process of decentralization of power as a global trend of democratization. The concept of decentralization of power is revealed and the process of implementation of the reform of decentralization of power in some European countries is highlighted. The relationship between the course of decentralization reform and the index of democracy in countries has been studied. The aim of the research is to identify and analyze the essence, features and experience of decentralization as a global trend of democratization. The realization of the goal requires the solution of the next task - to analyze the experience of decentralization in the context of the development of democracy in the European Union. The solution of research problems became possible due to the use of a complex of general scientific and special research methods. This analytical essay is based on documentary sources. Аnalyzing the principles and results of decentralization of power in European countries in the study we see the growth of democracy. Decentralization causes a global shift in power, as the distance between citizens and government institutions is reduced.

In the postmodern era, European political philosophy has introduced several concepts. These concepts have ideologically prepared Western countries for decentralization reform. Being still “in process”, reflection on the proper structure of postmodern society is marked by ambiguous and often contradictory ideas. The very view on the state as a de-hierarchical, rhizomorphic and horizontal phenomenon presupposes numerous ways of reforming it. Throughout their histories, European countries have shifted from confrontations, hostilities and rivalries towards new mechanisms of fruitful relationships between civil society and state institutions. Nowadays, many aspects are influencing the elaboration and implementation of strategies on civil society development in different countries. These aspects include the following: different starting conditions; the presence or absence of basic principles of public space development; the possibility of fulfilling civic practices’ potential; the level of political participation. West European countries have managed to create a viable structure to support the development of civil society, as well as maintain a stable dialogue between it and the state. However, the process is still on: effective practices of interaction between them are being developed; conditions for more effective cooperation are being improved; new financial instruments are being created and implemented. All Central and East European countries have a common understanding of civil society as one of the most important actors in developing cooperation with the government. At the same time, they should be able to solve existing essential problems, such as low awareness about global development problems and the population’s unreadiness to meet the immediate objectives of civil society development.

The objective of the text is to serve as an editorial to the edition volume 40, number 72, January-June 2022 of Political Issues. Methodologically, it is an editorial essay of a reflective nature based on documentary sources consulted in digital format. The crisis of the democratic model is in some way a global phenomenon that affects, to a greater or lesser extent, all modern societies that have adopted the government of the people and the power of the people as a form of state and government with constitutional status. It is concluded that democracy, beyond its different expressions and modalities, is the only political system that allows the enjoyment and enjoyment of human rights in a social framework of freedom, quality of life and dignity, but despite its benefits it is not exempt from contradictions such as: the crisis of representation, the loss of confidence in political institutions and the corruption of political parties and their respective leaderships; these contradictions put at stake the legitimacy of this form of government and also create the conditions of possibility for the production of neo-populist or neoconservative leadership that vindicate authoritarian ways of exercising power to the detriment of the rule of law.

The authors have attempted a philosophical essay to comprehend the phenomenon of statehood, society, decentralization and culture in the context of the philosophy of mind and (partially) the neuroscientific paradigm. The authors used a number of theoretical methods: from historical analysis and reconstruction of the phenomenon of philosophy of mind and establishing the role of human subjectivity and "selfhood" in sociopolitical processes, to philosophical reflection and essayistic parascientific author interpretations. The main result is a new view of decentralization in the context of postmodernist consciousness, where the background (postmodern) and sociopolitical result (decentralization) are the synergistic result of human social networks' realization of neurocognitive natural ability to parallel coexistence of personal and social. As a result, the virtual and material manifestations of the globalized informatized post-industrial society, which has received postmodernist experience, have conditioned total decentralization. At the same time, politically administrative is only a partial manifestation of it, while civil society seeks to diversify its needs and ways of solving them as much as possible. The international significance of the article lies in its universality: it complementarily analyzes the neuroscientific, cultural-mystetic, philosophical, social, and political dimensions of a civil postmodern society that seeks maximum decentralization of all superstructures and maximum delegation of managerial functions to its members and groups.

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