Gorovenko L. Public Opinion as a Factor of Political Responsibility in Ukraine

The dissertation fully reveals the structure and role of public opinion in a political plane and shows its research from the point of view of its influence on the political responsibility. Political science analysis is carried out and the peculiarities of correlation between the concepts "public opinion" and "political responsibility" are cleared up. The peculiarities of institualization and functioning of public opinion and political responsibility are studied in the transit society using Ukraine as an example and in the conditions of developed democracy using European countries as an example. The possibility of public opinion being a factor of political responsibility in Ukraine is considered, by conducting analysis of the main channels of expressing public opinion: referendums, elections, mass media, mass protest actions. It is determined that public opinion in Ukraine is a factor that influences political responsibility and can implement the last. It is ascertained that the character of political responsibility in Ukraine is non-systematic and fragmentary, which to great extent is caused by the transition stage from undemocratic political regime to democracy observed in Ukraine, as well as by a number of filters set for expressing public opinion in the main channels, which leads to the deformation of public opinion, erasing its purity and authenticity.