The value principle of the formation of political 
networks among the ruling elite: the experience 
of socio-philosophical analysis

The article deals with values as a factor in the formation of network structures among the ruling elite, a social community responsible for developing and making strategic decisions. The research methodology, based on the selected subject, includes a network and axiological approach, as well as a systematic method and structural-functional analysis. The paper analyzes the essence of the phenomenon of values, traces the development of views on the content of this phenomenon, and determines its significance for humans and society. Particular attention is paid to the consideration of implicit connections within the framework of elite theory, which predominantly explains informal relations through the patron-client model. However, this approach is insufficient, because informal relationships imply not only hierarchical subordination, which is a characteristic feature of all types of clients, but also horizontal interactions. The theory of political networks significantly expands the understanding of implicit structures, which implies that political actors build informal relationships on an instrumental basis, forming a network within which resources are exchanged to effectively achieve their own goals. However, the value-based principle of network formation is often overlooked. Values are an important and sometimes decisive factor in the formation of informal relationships, as they provide trust in the interactions of subjects. For studying such a complex phenomenon, the most common quantitative research methods in political science seem insufficient, however, the tools of qualitative methodology, well developed and successfully applied in related disciplines such as political psychology and sociology, provide ample opportunities for studying the value orientations of subjects and the structures they form. It should be recognized that there are difficulties in studying value preferences in the structures of the ruling elite, which is traditionally considered a very closed group. But this is not to say that the obstacles are insurmountable. Qualitative network analysis provides excellent opportunities for studying the value bases in informal structures that arise among the ruling elite.