Implementation of democratic values in the political system of Ukraine: institutional and sociocultural mechanisms, problems and prospects of development

Abstract

The article, for the first time, proposes a definition of the subject field of research on the mechanisms of implementing democratic values within Ukraine's political system, identifying its key components and the corresponding methodological approaches to their study. It reveals the theoretical and methodological foundations of democracy and democratic values, as well as the practical mechanisms of their implementation. The article argues that democracy should be understood not only as a system of political institutions and procedures but also as a comprehensive value-based framework that includes freedom, human dignity, equality, the rule of law, political pluralism, civic participation, and government accountability. For the first time, the article classifies the main mechanisms of implementing these values into the political system according to the criterion of research levels and the components of the political system. The study analyzes major theoretical approaches to democracy, including Robert Dahl's concept of polyarchy, Almond and Verba's theory of civic culture, Douglas North's institutional approach, Larry Diamond's concept of democratic consolidation, and Inglehart and Welzel's theory of cultural modernization. It is established that the subject field of research on the mechanisms of implementing democratic values in Ukraine's political system should include the features of the country's political and socio-economic advancement toward democracy, the main institutional mechanisms for realizing democratic principles, and the problems that complicate democratic consolidation: insufficient effectiveness of state institutions, weaknesses in ensuring the rule of law, corruption risks, an inadequate level of political accountability among elites, and contradictions within political culture. Special attention is paid to the role of civil society, European integration, and digital transformation as factors contributing to the strengthening of democratic values. The article argues that Ukraine's future democratic development depends on the ability of the state to ensure the effective functioning of democratic institutions and to foster a culture of active citizenship.