Starykovska O. The phenomenon of public opinion: the relationship between the state and civil society.

The thesis is devoted to the socio-philosophical study of the phenomenon of public opinion in the context of the relationship between the state and civil society. Two groups of models with different approaches to understanding of public opinion are identified. Based on the synthesis of selected groups of models, the essence of public opinion is determined. The thesis substantiates the relationship between the state and civil society as a source of forming public opinion and its functioning. Models of the mechanism of functioning of public opinion and types of interrelation of the state and civil society. Based on the research model of public opinion functioning, the relationship between the state and civil society has been recommended to be optimized, since they are a prerequisite for harmonizing the process of public opinion functioning in Ukraine.