Abstract: The relevance of the chosen issues is determined by the subject of research - the institution of the welfare state, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the normative order in society and the balance of interests between different social groups. It also guarantees the realization of citizens' political and social rights.The study focuses on the transformation of the welfare state's functions and priorities in social policy, influenced by a rapidly changing internal and external environment.
The main methodological foundation of the study is theoretical scientific methods and a systematic approach. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the research, the authors have drawn on both the results of sociological studies and a significant amount of data from international and domestic socio-economic statistics to address the identified issues.
The authors have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the factors that contribute to socio-economic change and how these changes directly affect the functioning of the welfare state. They conclude that, despite differences in each country's stable preferences, external and internal socio-economic conditions influence the social functions of states, institutions, and the mechanisms for implementing these functions.
Despite the fact that the principles and functions of the welfare state are implemented through specific measures that take into account the economic capabilities of the state, the peculiarities of state-building, national mentality, and the system of basic values, the idea of state paternalism remains at the heart of each model of the welfare state. This idea reflects the concept of state guardianship over the social sphere. In addition, there is a trend towards convergence among models of the welfare state in the modern world, which manifests itself in a steady trend towards unification of mechanisms for implementing social functions of the state and convergence in the scale of redistribution processes.

Abstract: The relevance of the chosen topic is due to the fact that globalization, being the most important factor in social dynamics, leads to tectonic shifts in absolutely all spheres of social life. These changes are ambiguous and dual in nature. The purpose of this work is to identify the contradictory nature of the influence of global transformation in the context of recent challenges (COVID 19, increased international economic competition, a complex of economic problems, sanctions policy, political instability) on the scale of inequality in the modern world, the functioning of the institution of the social state, consensus on issues of social cohesion, social justice and social solidarity. The theoretical basis of the article was the work of F. Fukuyama, I. Wallerstein, P. Rosanvallon, G. E. Anderson and others.
The interdisciplinary nature of the research within the framework of the identified problems requires the use of both the results of sociological research and a significant amount of international economic statistics. The authors have carried out a comprehensive analysis of the factors of global socio-economic changes that most directly affect the functioning of the modern social state.
Based on current sociological and statistical data, the authors prove the complex feasibility and partly even change in the basic principles of the “welfare state” associated with social justice, social cohesion and social solidarity in modern Western European countries, which until recently were considered a standard of high quality and living standards of the population, a developed social support system, and a large middle class. It is concluded that the negative trends of global social changes are unlikely to be changed in the foreseeable future, despite the measures taken by national governments and international institutions aimed at stabilizing the socio-economic situation.

Abstract: The goal of this article is the analysis of the impact of digital transformation upon social and economic structure of modern society, principles of social management, and structure of social ties. A conclusion is made that society is not fully adjusted to the changing social circumstances, which elapse oversensitively on the background of aggravation of socioeconomic and political problems. Analysis is conducted on the problem of social inequality in modern Russia, including recently most relevant spatial and digital inequality. Methodological framework contains the theoretical scientific methods, systemic approach, analysis of empirical data of sociological research and statistical data. Emphasis is made on the social challenges that would face Russian society in the conditions of digital transformation. The author underline the ambiguity of consequences of digital transformation for the modern Russian society and the state. The government should focus of finding adequate response to the global challenges and help the citizens to adapt to major social changes that affect socioeconomic space of the country in the conditions of globalization and digitalization.