Hnatiuk V. Features of functioning of political processes at the regional level in Ukraine on the example of Transcarpathian, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions in 2010-2015

The thesis highlights the results of research of complex definition, identification of conditions of development and comparison of functioning of political processes at the subnational level in Ukraine on the example of Transcarpathian, Lviv and Chernivtsi regions in 2010-2015. In the historiographical aspect, it is reflected that in the last fifty years subnational issues have passed a difficult path to formation in comparative political science: from its discovery to the derivation of an independent research direction. It is also noted that a characteristic feature of the research of Ukrainian researchers was the understanding of subnational processes through a range of related concepts, ideas and phenomena that are not always considered in the issue directly. The thesis pays attention to the theoretical and methodological aspects. In particular, it is shown that the ground of research at the subnational level of policy is based on the application of the subnational comparative method, which during the relevant development has gone through two stages: «classic» and «modern». It is noted that the subnational political regime is substantiated by researchers as a key phenomenon and a basic category in the framework of territorial research. The thesis highlights the point that should be discussed in the context of two contradictory, but complementary, theses: regime as a given and regime as correlation. From the methodological point of view, it is established that the measurement of political processes at the subnational level is carried out through two types of techniques – institutional and expert. The thesis uses both ways, that based on existing achievements and author’s innovation in terms of constructing methods, and the process of their implementation – on the use of an interval approach in the analysis of the institutional section of the territorial unit. The point is that expert techniques are based on the judgments of experts in local politics, and institutional – on the basis of formal indicators of the functioning of various dimensions of policy. The thesis outlines that the study and measurement of the functioning of political processes at the subnational level contributes to broad research opportunities to highlight the institutional development of subnational units in the state. On the other hand, it affects the immediate optimal search for mechanisms that in a timely manner, from a practical point of view, can lead to the internal transformation of problematic institutional dimensions in correlation to the democratic direction.