PERSUASION AND ENCOURAGEMENT AS TOOLS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF YOUTH POLICY IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article analyzes persuasion and incentivization as key instruments of public administration in the field of youth policy in Ukraine. Persuasion is understood as a soft, non-coercive influence based on information dissemination, legal education, voluntariness, youth participation in decision-making, and active communication between public authorities and youth communities. This instrument is implemented through educational events, public discussions, consultations, information campaigns, social advertising, and the creation of safe public spaces for dialogue and interaction. Such practices foster a high level of legal culture, civic awareness, and trust in public authorities among youth. In contrast, incentivization is defined as an active stimulus aimed at supporting lawful behavior, civic initiative, and participation in socially important processes. It is manifested through the provision of benefits, awards, grants, distinctions, and other forms of moral or material encouragement. The study emphasizes that these methods should not be viewed as mutually exclusive.On the contrary, their combination ensures a systematic and integrated approach to the implementation of youth policy. Persuasion plays the role of motivational initiation, while incentivization consolidates the desired outcome by creating conditions for the repetition of lawful behavior and initiatives. The synergy of these tools helps avoid administrative coercion, strengthens social cohesion, and ensures long-term active participation of youth in the development of a democratic society. Special attention is paid to the importance of ethical approaches, transparency in incentive procedures, and the adaptation of persuasion content to the age and worldview characteristics of youth. It is substantiated that in a democratic model of public administration, persuasion and incentivization guarantee conscious, voluntary, and constructive participation of young citizens in decision-making processes. The need for a strategic balance between these methods as forms of positive influence is underlined, as they build trust in the state, encourage initiative and responsibility among youth, and reinforce the values of public service and civic engagement.