THE ROLE OF CITIZENS’ ACTIVITY IN FORMING OF SOCIAL CAPITAL OF A CITY

Abstract

The article analyzes citizenship as a value system of a person (interests, principles, beliefs, ideas), which are the motives of his or her activism. Traditionally, this phenomenon has been studied through the connection of the individual with the social community, where activity is a systemic social quality, and public interests dominate over the individual. Another approach considers activity as an opportunity for a person to realize his or her interests and needs, combining individualism with various forms of solidarity and mutual assistance. This constructive view is consistent with the principles of subsidiary democracy and expands the field of civic participation.
Activity is defined as a system of human value orientations that motivate it to conscious actions aimed to the implementation of cultural, social, political and civic values, with a reasonable ratio of personal and social. In the information society, new forms of activity took shape, namely: discussions and propaganda of one's own position in social networks, mobilization of participation. Public associations form a sense of trust, solidarity, social responsibility, civic patriotism, and contribute to the accumulation of social capital. In connection with the processes of decentralization, the issue of participation in urban communities is of particular relevance, as cities create the country's economic and cultural power.
The results of a sociological study in the city of Melitopol indicate that the national-patriotic, environmental, charitable and volunteer organizations are the most significant for its residents. At the same time, the majority of respondents take part in their activities situationally, but consciously and voluntarily, which is consistent with national trends. The city has a certain resource of civic participation, which can help to increase its social capital.