DIGITALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MECHANISMS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE THEORY OF BUREAUCRACY AND THE NEO-WEBERIAN STATE

Abstract

The article, based on the principles of historical neo-institutionalism, provides a comprehensive analysis of the structural transformation of public administration in the context of existential security threats. The authors argue that the global crisis of the New Public Management paradigm, with its emphasis on decentralization and market approaches, has revealed the critical vulnerability of the state system during the war. As a strategic response to these challenges, the need to implement the Neo-Weberian state model in the public administration system of Ukraine is justified. The central element of the study is the rethinking of the functional role of bureaucracy. It is proven that the return to the Weberian principles of hierarchy and professionalism, reinforced by the end-to-end digitalization of processes, gives rise to the phenomenon of «dynamic legalism». This allows overcoming departmental fragmentation and implementing adaptive management mechanisms aimed at rapid consolidation of resources. Using the example of the analysis of the digital ecosystem of Ukraine, it is demonstrated how modern platforms ensure the institutional resilience of the system, transforming the status of a citizen from a passive «client» to an active «co-owner of the state». The conclusions emphasize that such a model not only guarantees a balance between democratic accountability and mobilization capacity, but also serves as a key reference point for the post-war reconstruction and further European integration of Ukraine in the new security landscape.