Mechanisms of social management of demographic processes: structural-functional approach and theory of social action

The article is devoted to the analysis of mechanisms of social management of demographic processes based on classical sociological concepts of T. Parsons, R. Merton and M. Weber. The structural-functional approach and the theory of social action are used to explain how institutional and socio-cultural factors influence population reproduction. The empirical part summarizes the results of a sociological questionnaire survey that revealed the relationship between the type of parental family and the desired number of children, as well as the role of value orientations and institutional conditions in reproductive behavior. Particular attention is paid to latent mechanisms of influence through the modern media space (mass media and blogosphere) and their impact on mass consciousness. The results show that effective management of demographic processes requires a comprehensive consideration of both institutional measures (policies, economic incentives) and socio-cultural determinants (norms, values, information influence).