The development of civil society sector as a subject of social policy: an attempt of conceptualization and analysis of real practices

Abstract

The article attempts in the frameworks of system methodology and postmodernist criticism to interpret sociologically the civil society sector as a subject of social policy. The author analyzes theoretical bases of sociological reflection of non-governmental self-organization of a society; non-governmental space of social policy is conceptualized; the essential traits of civil society sector and its role in social policy are outlined; its social status, directions and forms of activity in social sphere are discussed as well as functional possibilities and principles of activity; based on statistics and results of empirical sociological research the main issues of the development of civil society as an actor of social policy are analyzed in Russia society under transformations.