SOCIO-POLITICAL CRISIS IN THE FOCUS OF MODERN WESTERN POLITICAL SCIENCE

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive theoretical and methodological analysis of crisis socio-political processes within the framework of their interpretation in contemporary European political science. The findings substantiate that the contemporary socio-political crisis is multidimensional in nature and manifests not only through economic or security shocks, but also through a systemic mismatch between citizens’ expectations and the institutional capacity of states and supranational structures. It is demonstrated that in European political science crisis is increasingly viewed not as an exceptional condition of decline, but as an indicator of structural reconfiguration and adaptation of political systems to new circumstances. Particular attention is devoted to the interaction of internal and external crisis-generating factors, including war, digital transformation, and information polarization. The study argues that crisis may simultaneously function as a factor of destabilization and as a catalyst for institutional renewal.
The conclusions emphasize that for Ukraine crisis processes possess not only a destructive dimension but also a mobilizing potential, contributing to the consolidation of the political nation and the reconsideration of statehood models. For Europe, contemporary crises necessitate a reassessment of democratic governance mechanisms, the balance between national sovereignty and supranational coordination, and the strengthening of strategic autonomy. The proposed integrated definition of socio-political crisis makes it possible to move beyond simplified interpretations and to conceptualize crisis as a phase of dynamic transformation of political systems. The results of the study may be applied in further theoretical research and empirical analyses of democratic resilience and institutional adaptation.