POLITICAL DECISIONS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: СHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STATE COMMUNICATIONS

Abstract

The article examines the specific features of political decision-making in the digital age and their impact on the system of state communications. It is demonstrated that digitalization is not only a technical factor of modernizing governance processes but also a political resource that ensures transparency of state activity, accountability of public authorities, and effective interaction with citizens. Based on the analysis of Ukraine’s digital transformation experience, key initiatives are considered, including the Diia digital platform as the “state in a smartphone” concept, the Prozorro public procurement system, and the institution of electronic petitions. These instruments have provided new formats of communication between the state and society, contributed to greater openness, interactivity, and democratic participation of citizens. Special attention is given to the role of state communications, which, under conditions of digitalization, implement traditional functions – conservative, coordinating, integrative, mobilizing, and socializing – in new forms grounded in information and communication technologies. The main challenges of the digital age for political decisions are identified: information wars and disinformation, digital populism, information overload, and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. It is emphasized that these threats undermine trust in institutions, distort the analytical basis of decision-making, and may lead to the destabilization of the political system. The article concludes that the combination of digital technologies with democratic institutional mechanisms will determine the quality of political governance and the legitimacy of power in the 21st century. The Ukrainian experience confirms that digital tools are capable of creating effective models of state–society interaction, enhancing transparency, and fostering trust, while at the same time requiring the development of a national strategy for digital resilience and information security.