The Role of the State in Regulating Social Distances in Russian Society

Abstract

The article considers the social state as an institution embodying social solidarity between different strata, groups, communities, regulating social distances in a society. The survey showed that the majority of the population of Europe and Russia recognize the responsibility of the state to regulate the income gap and reduce poverty. But distance forms not only a material stratification, but also a way of life, possession of material and social re-sources, provision of social services - medical, educational, etc. The length of social distance, its acceptance by other individuals, the mobile nature of this distance is important. When deep differentiating factors act, social distances increase in a society, social tension grows. In such conditions, the social policy of the state to reduce social distances is an urgent necessity.