Social Policy as a Factor Ensuring State Sustainability

Abstract

In the conditions when Ukrainian statehood is facing the most serious challenge in its recent history, issues regarding state policy priorities in the social and economic sphere are becoming relevant. The goal of the article is to study the place and role of social policy in the process of ensuring the sustainability of the state. General scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, generalization, classification, system analysis, as well as a graphic method for visualization of the obtained results were used to form the main theses of the study. The work analyzes the modern scientific and theoretical platform and basic definitions of the concept of «sustainability», investigates the specifics and permanent context of the use of terms related to it — viability, stability and resilience, offers a systemic view of the state’s viability and identifies its components. Social policy is considered as an element of the management system of social processes, which directly affects the sustainability of Ukrainian society. At the current stage of development of the global economy, human is the main source of economic growth, and the quality of human potential is the key to the state’s competitiveness. Taking this into account, the importance of social and humanitarian policy is growing many times over. In economic policy, making a profit does not become a self-sufficient activity, instead the policy should be aimed at the person, unlocking the potential of the individual and forming the quality human potential of the state. Therefore, when assessing social policy, one should remember the value of a person, in particular the economic one, and the need for appropriate investments — in safety, health care system, and improving working conditions for the development of this resource. The work highlights the main elements of the state’s sustainability, shows the connection between its higher-level elements, such as the sustainability of the economy and the sustainability of society. It is in society — in the family, community, at the place of study — that the personality is formed and acquires a certain physical condition, education, professional skills and qualifications, and social connections. In this way, human and social capital is formed as a resource for the development of the economy and, accordingly, its stability and sustainability. At the same time, the economy generates material and financial resources that are necessary for both physical existence and development of an individual, as well as for the existence of society as a whole, in particular, social and engineering infrastructure facilities. The conducted analysis clearly demonstrates the importance of social policy as a social institution of sustainability in the state.