State policy was born simultaneously with the emergence of the state, acting as a key management mechanism and ensuring the consolidation of various resources – financial, material, labor, information and other-to solve urgent social problems. It covers a wide range of areas: domestic policy, focused on maintaining public order, developing the economy and social institutions; foreign policy, aimed at establishing and regulating international relations; military policy, ensuring the country's defense capability and the security of citizens; as well as strategic management, which determines long-term priorities and goals, the achievement of which requires comprehensive reforms and consistent work. implementation of state programs.

At the same time, the very term «politics» (politike), as is known, was introduced by Aristotle only in the IV century BC^[3]. However, the phenomenon of politics, although not always expressed in clear concepts, was initially an integral part of public life. It manifested itself in the system of power relations, the processes of state building, the conduct of wars and territorial conquests, as well as in the development of diplomatic practice. Even in ancient civilizations, politics played a key role in the organization of society, resource management and interaction between peoples, forming the basis for future state institutions and international relations. «Politics» wrote the American political scientist and Yale University professor Robert Alan Dahl, «is an ancient and universal experience; the art and science of political analysis have evolved over several millennia in various parts of the globe»^[4].

The concept of «state policy» came into scientific use much later than the general concept of «politics» – only at the end of the XIX-beginning of the XX century. Until then, there was no need for a special distinction, since politics was perceived primarily as an activity of the state and, in fact, was identified with state policy. However, with the development of civil society, democratic institutions, market relations and socio-political pluralism in the conditions of capitalist and bourgeois society, public (public) policy began to take shape. This has led to an awareness of the need for a conceptual division of politics into separate spheres, in particular, state and public, each of which has its own subjects, mechanisms of formation and goals.

Attempts to systematize approaches to the definition of public policy that have taken place in modern science demonstrate the existence of several approaches to its interpretation. One of them is proposed within the framework of the theory of public administration and involves the consideration of the corresponding phenomenon in the form of «sensitive to public needs institutional management practices aimed at effective and productive satisfaction of public needs»^[5]. Western literature also suggests an approach that positions public policy within the framework of the term «governance», identified as political leadership based on the principle of interaction between state and non-governmental institutions to ensure the satisfaction of socially significant needs^[6]. Alternatively, public policy is identified with public administration^[7]. There is also a concept of public policy as a public policy, which is also quite common in the literature, but is defined from different positions. For example, public policy is considered as the policy of the state and other public political organizations to satisfy public interests^[8]. Other definitions reveal the phenomenon of public policy as a symbiosis of political action, scientific reflection and an act of massmedia communication^[9], which seems to be most significant in the course of understanding the nature of the political and technological process in this context.

The main general scientific methodologies of the modern theory of public policy are the following approaches:

Activity-based approach.

This approach assumes that society is the result of universal social activity of everyone. According to the German sociologist M. Weber, the whole society and people, depending on their place in this social «enterprise», are divided into:

- пpolitical prisoners on occasion – ordinary voters;

- part-time political activists – party activists for whom politics is not yet the main area of activity;

- professional politicians – statesmen and officials, released party functionaries, etc.

According to M. Weber, politics as a sphere of public life is formed only with the emergence of the state-administrative apparatus as the «headquarters of the political enterprise» of the whole society, as well as with the isolation of managerial activities in a special profession of people associated with the control and distribution of power. The development and implementation of state policy is a specific type of professional political activity of civil servants, based on legitimate coercion and subordination, in order to organize and satisfy public interests and needs^[10].

A systematic approach.

Representatives of this approach (T. Parsons, D. Easton, G. Almond, K. Deutsch) describeюthe internal interrelationships of elements in public administration that form a single whole in the implementation of public policy. The political system is considered as a mechanism for processing incoming signals (society's requests, demands, resources) into output results (decisions, laws, programs). здесь Feedback mechanisms, maintaining the stability of the system and its adaptation to changes play an important role here. Politics is studied as the interaction between institutions, citizens, interest groups, and the environment. This approach is widelyused in the analysis of political regulation processes, stability of political systems, and crisis situations.

With a structural-functional approach.

This approach is closely related to the system approach. The system consists of structural elements that perform certain functions in society. Within the framework of this approach, thecenter focuses on studying the functions of various political institutions and the mechanisms of their interaction. Public policy –is the activity of various structures, each of which performs certain functions (legislative, executive, controlling). Herewe study the interrelationships between institutions, their stability and effectiveness, andanalyze the consequences of system dysfunctions (corruption, bureaucratization, inefficiency). The tools of this approachспользуюare used in the research of political institutions, public administration reforms, and problems of power decentralization.

The cybernetic approach.

This approach uses the analogy between management in politics and automated regulatory systems. Public policy here is the process of collecting, processing, and using information to adjust and adapt decisions. The central point is the concept of feedback: how effectively the policy responds to changes and requests from society. The state is considered as a self-regulating system, where monitoring and forecasting mechanisms are important. This approach is used in research on digitalization of public administration, artificial intelligence in politics, and public opinion monitoring mechanisms.

With an interactive approach.

This approach determines which management structure or techniques are most appropriate for a given situation. Since changes are constantly occurring and the situation is changing, the administration should plan what structural innovations can be implemented to maintain the effectiveness of management. Political decisions are formed under the influence of specific socio-economic, historical and political conditions. There are no universal policy solutions: each situation requires a unique approach. Environmental factors, resources, potential risks and opportunities are analyzed. The approach is applied in crisis management, analysis of political reforms, and strategic planning.

Konflictological approach.

This approach sees public policy through the prism of the struggle between the interests of various groups, social strata, elites and classes. Politics inevitably involves conflict, as different groups seek to distribute power and resources. A State can be an arbitrator or an active participant in a conflict. The main focus is on the mechanisms of conflict resolution and management (compromises, negotiations, repression). It is used in the analysis of political competition, interethnic and social conflicts, and protest movements.

And institutionalism.

The approach considers state policy as a result of the activity of state institutions (government, parliament, ministries, judicial bodies, etc.) that use certain administrative procedures and mechanisms. Institutional analysis focuses on the procedures and rules of the decision-making mechanism in various public authorities. Institutions set the framework within which public policy operates. Political behavior is shaped by stable rules and structures. Different variants of institutional changes are possible (evolution, reforms, revolutions). The article analyzes the impact of institutions on political processes, reforms, and the stability of democratic systems.

Conception of the political process.

The concept represents state policy as the result of political activity or a political cycle that has fixed stages and stages (problem identification, goal setting, policy formulation, legitimization, implementation, evaluation and monitoring) for solving public problems. It is used for analyzing public administration, political reforms, and the effectiveness of government programs.

Group categories.

The approach focuses on the interaction of various social groups and their influence on public policy. The state – is an arena of struggle between the interests of various groups. Political decisions are made under the influence of lobbying organizations, trade unions, and business associations. It is used in the analysis of lobbying, public opinion, and NGO influence.

Theory of elite.

This approach emphasizes that key policy decisions are made by a narrow circle of elites. Power is concentrated in the hands of a small number of people. Public policy reflects the interests of the elite, not society as a whole. The article analyzes the influence of political, economic and intellectual elites on politics.

Рsymbolism.

It considers political actors as rational players seeking maximum benefits. It is used in modeling political decisions and electoral behavior.

Game theory.

Uses mathematical modeling to analyze the strategies of political actors. It is used in the study of international relations, political competition, and negotiation processes.

Incrementalism.

It is based on the idea of gradual, evolutionary changes instead of radical reforms. It is used in the analysis of state budgeting, social reforms, and bureaucracy.

These approaches complement each other and can be applied comprehensively depending on the aspect of public policy under study.

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^[3] Aristotle. Politics. Works in 4 vols. – Vol. 4. – Moscow : Mysl; 1983; 376–644. (In Russ.).

^[4] Dal R. A. Modern political analysis. Actual problems of modern foreign political science. Issue 4: Abstract collection. – Moscow : INION RAS; 1991:51–111.

^[5] Lunn J., Wildawsky A. АPublic Administration. The State of Discipline. – Chatham. – N.Y., 1990.

^[6] Osborn D., Gaebler Т. Reinventing Government. – N.Y., 1992.

^[7] Micheletti M. Public Administration in a Democratic Society. – St. Petersburg, 1998.

^[8] Smorgunov L. V. Comparative Political Science: Theory and Methodology of Measuring Democracy. – St. Petersburg.., 1999.

^[9] Shmatko N. A. The Phenomenon of Public Policy // Sociological Studies. – 2001. – No. 7.

^[10] State Policy in a Changing World: Textbook / Compiled by T. O. Ozhukeeva, A. K. Ergeshov. – B., 2012. – p. 15.