For the first time in Ukrainian scientific discourse, a comprehensive analysis of conceptual modern theoretical and practical perspectives of public administration research in the system of value coordinates of the formation of civil society in Ukraine has been carried out.
In the dissertation work, taking into account dispositivity as one of the leading and dominant postulates of the functioning of civil society, an attempt has been made to imbue the research methodology with an interpretative concept, as one that, firstly, is based on an interactive methodology that is justified for interdisciplinary studies, and secondly, successfully correlates with dispositivity, taking into account the widest possible list of arbitrary scientific reflections of previous developers, based on the clarification and further interpretation of the phenomenon of governance.
A single, clearly defined structure of the methodology for studying social-power relations and management relations is proposed, with a division into its axiological (value-ideological) and praxeological (tactical) directions, the first of which covers methodological principles, approaches and vectors of studying the phenomenon of management, the second - the methodology and methodological techniques of its study, with the introduction into scientific circulation of the concept of the researcher's methodological handwriting.
The concept of legitimation of public-power relations and governance relations is defined (as a method of providing popular recognition, a process of individual and collective acquisition of the idea that state power, the structure of its bodies, the method of their formation, its measures and activities in general correspond to the expectations, views, and beliefs that have been formed in people on the basis of sensory perception, experience, and rational assessment), with further formulation and introduction into scientific circulation of the concept of "socialization agent" (using the example of various public associations and groups) and the correlation of the specified category with the category of public control.
The main models of relations between administrative bodies and public institutions in different sections of the spatial continuum among the countries representing Western democracy are demonstrated with the formulation of proposals for harmonizing the latter with the existing domestic administrative archetype.
The basic epistemological principles of the dialectics of the concepts of "domination ‒ subordination", "authority" and "protest" in the context of administrative activity are characterized, as well as the features of their correlation with the legal mentality of society.
The dissertation also establishes that the basis for the legal doctrine of effective (proper) public administration in the EU are the principles of legality and non-discrimination, guarantees of equal human rights and freedoms. In this context, the main state-building principles of the EU are analyzed, namely: clear legislative regulation, social security and decent financial support for civil servants. It was found that the most common features of the European model of public administration include: a parliamentary system of government, multi-party coalition governments, decentralization of power, independence and clarity of the work of courts of all types and instances, including constitutional courts. Within the framework of the development of the provisions of the concept that the state represented by bodies and officials should strive for effective management (good governance), the idea of creating an electronic government in Europe has been implemented since the second half of the 1990s. The successful results of the implementation of this idea are shown, in particular, by the example of France and Finland. The dissertation study argues that the prerequisite for the successful functioning and effective interaction between civil society institutions and public administration entities is the choice of a successful mechanism for recruiting into the administrative segment of the elite, a close-knit group of people who are connected by interpersonal and business contacts and create a team, each member of which is a decision-making subject.
Key words: public administration, civil society, democratic state, citizen, democratic principles, local self-government, public activity, managerial values.
