WELFARE STATE AND SOCIAL POLICY AS A SUBJECT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Abstract

The issues of the essence and direction of scientific research on the topic of the social state are considered. It is noted that the constant search for the optimal model of the regulatory influence of the state on the life of society is also an important scientific problem. The main scientific concepts that primarily concern the correlation of the fundamental principles of the organization of the legal and social state are analyzed. The starting point for the analysis is the position that the term «social state» is quite actively used to interpret the participation of the state in the implementation of the principles of social justice, equality and, at the same time, additional social security for the most vulnerable segments of the population. Until recently, the opinion about the impossibility of reconciling the above features of the legal and social state was quite widespread. Today, most researchers adhere to the point of view that a modern civilized state is both legal and social. Additional clarity regarding the above issue is brought by discussions on the correlation between the principle of the rule of law and the organization of a social state. At first glance, these are not only different, but also incompatible concepts (based on freedom as a basic value in modern social and legal relations, and its limitations in the process of social protection or provision). However, the analysis of modern research indicates not only the possibility, but also the necessity of a harmonious relationship between both concepts (they are based on the same value, namely human dignity). The relationship between the principles of the rule of law and the social state, which are based primarily on human dignity, also speaks in favor of this. The position that the concept of the social state should be supplemented with specific explanations and indications on the ways to achieve social justice (first of all, in this case, it should be about specific dimensions of social policy and additional social protection of the most vulnerable segments of the population) is substantiated.