E-DEMOCRACY AS A TOOL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN UKRAINE

Abstract

Introduction. This scientific study examines e-democracy as a strategic tool for the development and strengthening of civil society in Ukraine. Based on the analysis of theoretical approaches and the classification of e-democracy instruments, a formalization of the interaction between the state and civil society is presented. In particular, the article substantiates the necessity of transitioning to a mature e-democracy model to enhance and ensure the resilience of civil society.

Purpose. The aim of the study is the further development of theoretical propositions and a systematic interpretation of e-democracy as an effective mechanism for the development and strengthening of civil society in Ukraine, as well as the formalization of a model to ensure its maturity.

Materials and methods. The research materials include regulatory and legal acts, data from official digital platforms ("Diia", e-dem.ua, the Unified Portal for Public Consultations, electronic petition systems, and participatory budgets), as well as scientific works by domestic and foreign authors on e-democracy and civil society development.

In the course of the study, a complex of general scientific and specialized methods was applied: historical (to analyze the evolution of the e-democracy concept); systematic and structural-functional (to consider e-democracy as a system of interaction between the state and society and to classify its instruments); comparative (to contrast the development of e-democracy in Ukraine with European experience and to assess the impact of the global democratic decline); formalization (to construct a supply and demand equilibrium model and provide a mathematical description of the e-democracy maturity point); and the method of scientific abstraction and generalization (to establish correlations between the maturity of e-democracy and the resilience of civil society).

Results. The article systematizes theoretical approaches to defining e-democracy, classifies its main instruments (e-participation, e-voting, e-communication, and oversight), and proposes a supply and demand equilibrium model. The concept of the e-democracy maturity point is formalized as (D(P*) = S(P*) = Q*), at which the maximum impact on civil society is achieved. The study substantiates the correlation between e-democracy maturity and key indicators of civil society resilience (civic activity, trust in government, inclusivity of participation, etc.).

Discussion. The research outlines prospects for further scientific inquiry regarding the development of models for monitoring e-democracy maturity, as well as the formulation of recommendations for narrowing digital divides and enhancing digital security.