Social policy as a factor in the construction of inequality: a new model of paternalism

This article presents a comprehensive theory, describing processes of transformation of social policy patterns under modern Russian conditions. It contains the argumentation of the assumption that in post-Soviet period the state strategies in the sphere of social policy have evolved from the model of state paternalism based on social equality provision to the model based on the construction of inequality. Social policy is aimed at achieving the optimal ratio of positive and destructive potential of social inequality, determining the development of society in the continuum of «social order - social imbalance». At present, however, in a changing geopolitical and financial-economic context the strategic paradigm of optimization of social institutions has become the central vector of social reforms. It is implemented by reduction of the number of budgetary institutions in the social sphere, adjustment of legal organizational form, growth of commercialization of public social services, transfer of functions of its implementation to non-profit and private sector. The purpose of this strategy is to increase the economic efficiency of the public sector of social services. However, the implementation of this strategy increases government regulation, bureaucratization and control-supervision activities of government services.