SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF POLITICIANS AS THE BASIS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION EFFICIENCY

The social responsibility of the political elite is a fundamental component of effective public governance, ensuring citizen trust, transparency, accountability, and the state’s ability to respond promptly to contemporary challenges. The article highlights key aspects of the impact of political leaders’ social responsibility on the quality of the decision-making and societal trust. The authors analyze the main conceptual approaches to social responsibility of the politicians through the lens of democratic values, including ethics, respect for human rights, justice, and accountability. The factors determining the level of politicians’ social responsibility are examined, including tenure duration, personal qualities of the leaders, public oversight, and the influence of societal expectations and political culture. Special attention is given to the dependency of social responsibility on the nature of the political system: in democratic societies, effective mechanisms of public control and accountability enhance the responsibility of politicians, whereas these mechanisms are weakened in authoritarian regimes. A comprehensive approach to increasing the social responsibility of politicians is proposed, which includes legal, educational, civic, and partnership mechanisms. Legal regulation should ensure the transparency of political activities and introduce sanctions for violating principles of integrity. Political education promotes the awareness of both citizens and political leaders, fostering a culture of responsible governance. The role of public oversight is enhanced through modern technologies that provide transparency and access to information. Active participation of civil society institutions and partnerships between government, business, and communities are key elements in implementing joint social initiatives. Such collaboration helps to address the interests of all stakeholders, improves public governance effectiveness, and fosters trust in authority. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating social priorities at all levels of public policy to reduce social inequality, enhance citizens’ welfare, and ensure sustainable development of the state.