Social populism as a means of psychological manipulation of the electorate in the transitional ukrainian society

The article reveals the importance of negative psychological manipulative technologies which takes place in modern transitional Ukrainian society in the process of political activity. They are connected with the process that is now called populism. The author argues that along with such types of populism like national, religious, military, anti-oligarchic and others, the social is very important. Social populism is characteristic of countries with different levels of development, but societies in transition are at greater risk of succumbing to this phenomenon. Besides, Ukraine has a significant share of the population for whom the principal source of income has been the redistribution of the state budget (pensioners, state employees, temporarily unemployed, etc.). This category is also susceptible to psychological manipulation because the slogans of increasing social benefits are in demand in this environment. An empirical study was conducted among 200 residents of Chernivtsi city and its district of the Chernivtsi region to determine the level of vulnerability of modern Ukrainian society to social populism. It is concluded that there is a high level of support for social and populist ideas among the people. Most respondents support populist social promises, ignoring what will happen to incomes and the economy after they are fulfilled. The author proposes mechanisms to minimize the negative manifestations of populism, which should be to unite the efforts of the political elite in the use of civil society tools. Large-scale educational work, advanced training of representatives of state authorities and local self-government, education of the future elite based on professionalism, competence, responsibility, moral values are the vital tools for overcoming the manifestations of populism at the present stage. The author emphasizes that the problems of social protection of the population require a definite impartial approach on the part of the authorities and politicians, and on the part of the population, it is necessary to understand the separation of the real potential of the state to protect vulnerable groups from desirable and sometimes fantastic promises that cannot be fulfilled