Understanding the social function of the state in European countries

The article is dedicated to exploring the peculiarities of understanding the social function of the state in European countries through the lens of its constitutional enshrinement and practical implementation. The study emphasizes the importance of researching the social function in the context of globalization processes, integration trends, and the growing focus on human rights and social justice in Europe. In European countries, the social function of the state is a fundamental component of the state system aimed at ensuring the dignified existence of every individual. The article analyzes the constitutional models of the social function in Spain, Germany, France, Lithuania, and Latvia. Using the example of the Spanish Constitution, it demonstrates how social, democratic, and legal aspects of statehood are integrated into a unified concept, where the rule of law is considered the foundation for the realization of both democratic and social principles. It highlights that in the Federal Republic of Germany, despite the absence of an explicit mention of the rule of law in the Constitution, all principles of the rule of law and social statehood are effectively realized through democratic mechanisms and efficient social policy. In France, the social function is intrinsically linked to democratic principles and is realized through a developed social protection system, while maintaining the principle of the indivisibility of the state. The article concludes that the European experience offers valuable guidelines for Ukraine to improve its national model of statehood in the context of the social function, which substantiates the necessity of revising the wording of Article 1 of the Constitution of Ukraine. The study emphasizes the importance of adapting national social legislation to European standards, as well as the need for reforming Ukrainian legislation to align with general European norms in the areas of social security and human rights. The analysis shows that European countries offer valuable models that can be used to enhance the social function of the state in Ukraine. The article demonstrates that the European experience of realizing the social function is an important source for improving the national model of statehood. It has been determined that the integration of principles of social justice, social security, and human rights into Ukraine’s legislation is a necessary condition for building an effective and stable state system.