Humanitarian orientation of the social policy in conditions of decentralization
Authors: Petrovskyi P. , Popok A. 
Published: August 2021

Problem setting. Modern democratic development of Ukraine is accompanied by the emergence of acute socio-economic challenges directly related to the quality of life of the population and the necessity for constant attention to them by the state. Under such conditions, the importance of social policy increases, and it is highly important to respond appropriately to the deterioration of people's social security. The implementation of effective social policy is complicated in the context of decentralization reform, when a significant range of powers to implement is transferred to the territories and there is an expansion of the circle of direct executors.
Recent research and publications analysis. The issue of forming the effective social policy and proper social protection of vulnerable groups is considered in the works of many foreign and domestic researchers. Theoretical and methodological foundations of the humanitarian component of the social policy are revealed in the works of the classics of world sociological thought M. Weber, P. Sorokin, Y. Habermas, P. Reeker and other scientists. In the domestic science of public administration, social policy is given considerable attention; various aspects of its implementation at the central, regional and local levels are considered.
Highlighting previously unsettled parts of the general problem. At the same time, it should be noted that the theoretical study of the issues of social justice and the filling of social work with humanitarian content in the current context of reforms requires much more attention.
Paper main body. The article states that the peculiarity of the modern transformation of the social policy of the Ukrainian state is the transition from a paternalistic to a market model of economic and social development. This causes a number of problems and requires adherence to the democratic principles of social security, which include, in particular, the concept of humanitarianism. The latter, along with the requirement of humane treatment of the rights and freedoms of every citizen, focuses on a deeper involvement of the provisions of human science. The theoretical and methodological basis of the humanitarian direction of social policy is humanitarian knowledge and the corresponding values of civilizational development of modern society. In the specific context of the implementation of social policy in the context of decentralization, humanitarianism is revealed through such principles as anthropocentrism, polysubjectivity, justice and the paradigmatic unity of all participants in the process of social interaction.
Conclusions of the research and prospects for further studies. It is stated that the humanitarian orientation of social policy in the modern conditions of public openness and decentralization reform becomes of special importance. Deepening the care for vulnerable groups of the population is carried out by introducing new technologies of accounting and verification of their status, a combination of general approaches and targeted assistance to each group. Thus, speculative concepts of humanity and tolerance are part of the direct practice of public communication and social transformation, become the content of legal and organizational support of social policy. Further scientific research in this direction is possible in particular by ensuring the unity of theoretical developments and practical steps by guaranteeing the proportional development of society on the basis of democracy and justice.
Peculiarities of social policy transformation in the conditions of decentralization reform and application of modern innovative mechanisms of its realization are considered. The specifics of the organization of social security at the local level and its specific forms are revealed. The necessity for observing the humanitarian orientation of the implementation of social policy on the basis of the principles of anthropocentrism, polysubjectivity, transparency and justice is substantiated. An important condition for the implementation of this orientation should be the introduction of a model of humanitarian paradigm in the activities of all social policy actors.