Social institutions and structures tend to experience an objective need for changes. It is dictated by inability of a social system to function in its previous capacity and according to an established algorithm. One of the ways of systemic social change is reforms, which are usually initiated and directed by the government. The article is aimed both at analyzing existing scientific approaches to social reforms study, and at substantiating a new approach to understanding this social phenomenon. The work is based on socio-philosophical ideas contained in the works of V. I. Lenin, P. B. Struve, L. I. Abalkin, T. I. Oizerman, S. Huntington, A. Touraine. The use of comparative historical method, as well as methods of analogy and interpretation made it possible to propose an understanding of reformism as a special type of social practice focused on purposeful social change. The article substantiates an approach designed to identify only objective characteristics of the reform phenomenon, free from value judgments and metaphorical comparisons. In particular, reform is seen as a mode of social transformation. At the same time, it is fundamentally important that the government maintains control over any ongoing social changes, retains priority in choosing the objects of reform, the sequence of reform measures, the speed of their implementation, etc.

Social institutions and structures tend to experience an objective need for changes. It is dictated by inability of a social system to function in its previous capacity and according to an established algorithm. One of the ways of systemic social change is reforms, which are usually initiated and directed by the government. The article is aimed both at analyzing existing scientific approaches to social reforms study, and at substantiating a new approach to understanding this social phenomenon. The work is based on socio-philosophical ideas contained in the works of V. I. Lenin, P. B. Struve, L. I. Abalkin, T. I. Oizerman, S. Huntington, A. Touraine. The use of comparative historical method, as well as methods of analogy and interpretation made it possible to propose an understanding of reformism as a special type of social practice focused on purposeful social change. The article substantiates an approach designed to identify only objective characteristics of the reform phenomenon, free from value judgments and metaphorical comparisons. In particular, reform is seen as a mode of social transformation. At the same time, it is fundamentally important that the government maintains control over any ongoing social changes, retains priority in choosing the objects of reform, the sequence of reform measures, the speed of their implementation, etc.