The dissertation is devoted to the problems of the newest Ukrainian elite formation, which occurs against the backdrop of the deployment of state that is the main building process of the modern Ukraine. The author sees the political elite as a polysyllabic, multidimensional phenomenon that characterizes such groups of markers as quantity and quality is offered. Qualitative reveals the peculiarities of political thinking, culture, activities and characterizes the specifics of obtaining, acquiring, using and retaining political power, relations both within the elite group and with society. The phenomenon of transformation of the political elite is considered and the main political and cultural features of its changes are determined. The transformation of the political elite is seen as a complex process of its institutional and subjective changes. It is determined that institutional transformation can occur at the level of interaction between different branches of power, old and new elite, horizontal and vertical communications within the elite group, as well as in relations with society. The «subjective» transformation of the political elite is caused by the change of values, attitudes, norms of behavior that determine the content and forms of activity of this group. The political culture of the Ukrainian elite has identified such features as the dominance of negative qualities and the ambivalence of the value base of this group: on the one hand, the political elite publicly positions themselves as the bearer of democratic (positive) values and imitates activities accordingly, on the other - the content of practical activity is predominantly negative values. These traits also affect the negative perception of the political elite, the lack of public confidence in it and the government as a whole. The study of approaches to the periodization of the formation and development of the political elite in modern Ukraine allowed us to formulate the conditional characteristics of the political and cultural transformation of this group: survival-preservation, adaptation, displacement, purification, renewal, development. The determinants of the political-cultural transformation of the political elite have been identified and their significant influence on the qualitative characteristics and opportunities for renewal of this social group in Ukraine has been determined. It is proposed to consider the professionalism, intellectualism, morality of the political elite as basic values of the democratic culture of government and governance, which will contribute to its positive quality and public confidence. The provision on the «quality» of the political elite as a national elite, which has such features as democracy, patriotism, rationality, professionalism, justice, is aware of the importance of political education and upbringing, needs to develop and adhere to the rules and norms of democratic life common to all , in the consolidation of the elite and society.
