Strategic guidelines of social policy: modern conceptual framework

The problem of defining strategic guidelines of Russian social policy in the actual socio-economic and geopolitical realities is highlighted in the article. The author analyzes processes of transformation of the social policy state strategy in the past 25 years, the main stages of such transformation and their specificity. The author shows the vector of such changes - from the neo-liberal model to the dominant social state model, supported by paternalistic mentality of the majority of the population. The question of the need to define a new conceptual model for social policy in modern Russia is raised, allowing enhancing the quality of social policy as a factor of economic growth and social development in three directions. The first refers to the need for a reorientation of social policies in the interests of those social groups which are able to realize the potential of innovative development. Consequently, the key areas of social policy are not social welfare of compensatory nature, but support for small and medium entrepreneurship, promotion of business activity and employment effectiveness, the development of attractive labor markets and employment, antitrust regulation, reforming the social services sectors, responsible for the quality of human capital assets. Secondly, the importance of focusing on the establishment of social justice in the society as one of the basic values and a form of social relations, providing strength and stability of the social order is emphasized in the article. Thirdly, it points out the necessity of social policy consideration as a policy for social security in the society. Moreover, the process of formation of socially-responsible civil society, strengthening the middle class in Russia is treated as intermutual one.