Decentralization as a means of political modernization

Abstract

The article argues that the modernization of society during the years of independence included, in particular, the implementation of a decentralization reform, during which a number of powers were transferred from the central state bodies to local self-government bodies and which became one of the most successful reforms in Ukraine. However, the relevance of this was questioned in connection with the intensification of technological renewal and, especially, in the conditions of a full-scale invasion. The purpose of the article is to clarify the relationship between the modern understanding of the concept of modernization and the phenomenon of decentralization of public power. In achieving the goal, primarily historical and structural-functional approaches were used. The evolution of the concept of modernization in science over recent decades is analyzed. It is argued that in classical theories of modernization, attention was paid primarily to the transition from traditional to industrial society, the formation of nation-states, etc. At the same time, these theories also emphasized, in particular, the distribution of power and authority, including in the vertical dimension. It was found that in recent decades the understanding of modernization has evolved towards an organic combination of universal principles and local specifics, which made it possible to include the phenomenon of decentralization of public power in this concept. This was also associated with the emergence of the concept of postmodernization. Thus, the policy of decentralization is becoming one of the tools of modernization, contributing to the achievement of a number of its goals, in particular the structural differentiation of society and its political system, the democratization of society, the expansion of political participation. The article also analyzes the influence of such a modern aspect of modernization in this area as digitalization. It is concluded that the latter does not fundamentally contradict decentralization, but actualizes the problem of local government bodies mastering the latest technologies of public communication and control over this process by the state.