THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE: SEARCHING FOR A PATH TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Summary. The article examines the potential paths of development of the legal system of Moldova in line with the most influential regional trends. Used a comprehensive analysis of sociological data on the republic, the author bases his research on the thesis about the key role of the „socialdemand” of the population of Moldova in determining the current model of development of the legalsystem of the country, which allows establishing „sustainable development” as such a model. At thesame time, the article substantiates the author’s approach to understanding this term, which distinguishes it from other interpretations that have become widespread in science. Analyzing the potentialpaths of „sustainable development” of the legal system of Moldova, associated with the images of„stable Soviet past” and „stable European future” popular in public legal consciousness, the authortries to give a theoretically sound assessment of the „development potential” inherent in these paths.Key words: legal system, sustainable development, regional trends, Republic of Moldova.