A HEALTHY SOCIETY: SOCIAL CHALLENGES OF DIGITALIZATION AND THE WAYS TO OVERCOME THEM (THE UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE)

Abstract

The aim: The article examines the peculiarities of the Ukrainian state policy in the field of digitalization, reveals the social challenges caused by this phenom¬enon, and outlines the ways to overcome them. Materials and Methods: The data collection was carried out using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar databases. Research papers were identified according to the search terms: “digitalization”, “digital transformations”, “Internet”, “digital services”, “smart city”, “smart urbanization”, “inclusion”, “social exclusion”, “community mental health”, “volunteering”, “social partnership”. The authors analyzed international and domestic official strategies, programs, and messages along with statistical data and social surveys conducted by foreign and Ukrainian institutions, public organizations, and analytical centers. The authors used the interdisciplinary approach along with the principles of objectivity, tolerance, and impartiality, and general scientific methods, such as induction, deduction, generalization, etc. Conclusion: The rapid spread of digital technologies is associated with the growth of social cohesion, inclusion, solidarity, and the development of a healthy harmonious society that will provide all the conditions for a decent life for a human being and the comprehensive development of his/her abilities and talents. These hopes are not groundless, because digitalization is accompanied by a number of structural shifts in economics and public administration, which contribute to overcoming subjectivity in making management decisions and increasing the level of “intellectualization” of the environment. In addition, digitalization is becoming a significant driver of the sustainable growth in labor productivity, employment levels, personal and social well-being; and the spread of digital technologies provides an opportunity to overcome various social challenges. As the Ukrainian experience reveals, despite a number of positive shifts, digitalization can also give rise to destructive social trends, among which the digital gaps caused by the uneven access to digital technologies and services occupy a special place. People in the city outskirts, small towns, and especially in the remote rural areas often have extremely limited access to the Internet that significantly reduces their social opportunities. These problems became more acute after the full-scale invasion of the russian federation into Ukraine. The occupation of the part of Ukraine, hostilities, and missile attacks damaged the energy sector blocking telecommunication networks, which led to the social exclusion of a significant part of the population in some Ukrainian regions. The harsh living conditions during the war, the social exclusion as a result of the occupation, as well as the destruction of energy infrastructure and civilian objects fueled the activities of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. The proposed services and transformations provided social opportunities for a part of the population, while remaining unable to overcome social exclusion generated by the digital, social, or other gap. Volunteers and social activists usually help to bridge the gap and maintain mental health of the community, which has been suffering from the horrors of the war for more than a year. Their activities and public position lay the ground for the establishment of social partnership aimed at the harmonious development of every individual and the community as a whole.