THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT IN THE CONDITIONS OF POLITICAL MODERNIZATION AND DEMOCRATIC TRANSIT

Abstract

Relevance of the topic. Historical sources of political modernization processes are an important source for analyzing modern trends in the development of democracies in the world. The goal is to analyze the historical trends in the development of Western democracies in the context of political modernization and democratic transit processes. Novelty. In the 70s of the 20th century, two interrelated theories were updated, which are today the undisputed leaders in the field of comparative political research methodology – the theory of rational choice and neo-constitutionalism. The main achievement of the theory of rational choice is that it reduces the diversity of human activity to simplified models – games – and in each determines the optimal subjects of strategy. At the same time, the results obtained are, firstly, neutral, and secondly, widely used to explain social and political phenomena and their forecasting. The current stage of modernization began in the late 1980s. It began under the conditions of the collapse of the world socialist system, when post-socialist countries tried to join the world community of peoples and build civilized social states. Currently, the theory of modernization is being transformed into an important tool of knowledge. The theoretical and methodological prerequisites of the modernization paradigm are formed by the classical theories of social change of G. Spencer (from «military» to «industrial» society), Emile Durkheim (from mechanical to organic solidarity), F. Tönnis (movement from natural ties of community to artificial atomistic). In accordance with the approaches developed in the 50s and 60s, pp. XX century, modernization is a large-scale, multifaceted process that involves rapid social dynamics, radical changes in the social structure, living standards, cultural norms and values. Conclusions. Political modernization is the process of transforming society, accompanied by the formation of political institutions, social mobilization and expansion of political participation, the spread of democratic values and norms inherent in developed countries in less developed countries.