Social technologies in management of modern Russian society
Authors: Gavrilenko O. V. 
Published: November 2024

The article attempts to characterize the problem field of scientific research of the Department of Social Technologies of the Sociological Faculty of Moscow State University as part of the study of social technologies in the management of modern Russian society, with an emphasis on the technology of modernization of the Russian society and transformation of management practices in the context of new external challenges (primarily related to the active introduction of digital information and communication technologies).

Modern Russian society is developing in the context of external and internal challenges requiring the transformation of management practices and the development of new social technologies. In connection with the need to implement the task set by the authorities of choosing a way of further development and rethinking the system of spiritual and moral values, the problem of the development, selection and application of social technologies of socio-cultural, economic and political modernization of Russian society has been actualized. Looking retrospectively at the process of modernization of Russia, one can clearly see the “pendulum” of development — in the direction of borrowing “Western” experience and implementing reforms by western standards or, on the contrary, “return to the roots” and implementing counter-reforms. In the current geopolitical situation, we can state that there has been a demand not only for a return to traditional values and conservative ideology, but also for a rethinking of Russia as a “distinct civilization”.

Serious challenges (socio-demographic changes, digitalization, algorithmization, robotization, development of artificial intelligence, machine learning, shering economy, etc.) facing society and its social institutions today, require rethinking management practices and social technologies. The digitalization of social management is increasingly challenging the identification and analysis of the social consequences of introducing artificial intelligence, replacing human labor with machine and algorithms. When we talk about changing the nature of management in a digitalized society, we see an increasing penetration of artificial intelligence technologies into the field of management and the development of algorithmic control. Algorithms are now used in public administration, social services and social services, education, health. The autonomy and autonomization of algorithmic solutions raise serious questions about reducing the role of the human factor in management, which is alarming, especially in spheres that have traditionally been built around the human being. In addition, machines do not just study a person, they try to push him to make certain decisions, to a given behavioral response to a given stimulus, open new possibilities for manipulation. With the active introduction of digital technologies in all spheres of public life and in the management system, there are fears of total digital control. As digital platforms gain more instrumental power and access to personal data, so does the resistance of users of digital platforms due to a lack of control over the “fate” of the data provided. All this can lead to an increase in social tensions, which cannot be ignored when implementing management practices and choosing modern social technologies of management of society.