Abstract

Process of definition of the category ‘public policy’ is debatable in political science and is interfaced to a number of methodological and semantic difficulties. Two main tendencies in interpretation of the designated category are allocated: the first tendency is connected with philosophical and axiological representations about ‘public’, the second reflects subject and practical understanding of public policy. Philosophical basis of considered concept is the spatial concept (public space, a public field, the public sphere). The second tendency in understanding of public policy as activity (subject and practical) category is connected with Anglo­Saxon tradition within policy sciences paradigm. Scientists on the former Soviet Union adapt conceptual sense of public policy on the basis of that experience of the state and cultural and valuable changes which is available in their national contexts. The main problem, in this case, is that the above categories donot correspond to the contents in the conditions of transitional systems.