Penetration crisis: the Ukrainian context

Abstract

The article analyzes the manifestations of the crisis of penetration in Ukraine during the transformation of the political regime and modernization of the political system, contradictions and obstacles that arise during the exercise of powers and decisions by the authorities. The concept of the „crisis of penetration” is substantiated as the incapability of the authorities to implement its decisions into social practices. Factors that can provoke the development and exacerbation of the crisis are analyzed, among which within the Ukrainian realities remain primarily the activities of financial and industrial groups, unclear division of competencies between councils and local state administrations, opposition to the „center—regions” vertical, lack of an effective judicial system. The author proposes during the analysis of the crisis to distinguish two levels — institutional — because the crisis of penetration primarily affects the institutional and political structure of power, mainly strikes the vertical relations of „center—regions”; and social — manifestation of the crisis is a decrease in the ability of public administration to implement its directives to the masses and get from them an adequate response. The author focuses on the phenomenon of impenetrability of power, its encapsulation, which can provoke outbreaks of protests — when citizens openly disagree with the government's course and demand that their goals and interests be recognized. According to the author, political and administrative penetration is necessary for a viable political system. If the government loses this quality, the power mechanism and the relations between its subjects need to be reformatted. Among the measures that can slow down or overcome the crisis of penetration into the realities relevant to Ukraine, the author indicates the effective reform of the state apparatus, judicial reform, public audit of government actions and the policy of de-oligarization.

Keywords

• political modernization
• modernization crises
• penetration crisis
• impenetrability of power
• decentralization
• local self-government bodies
• financial-industrial groups