Problems of formation and development of Ukraine as a democratic and social state of law is one of the urgent problems. The process of creation of the state in Ukraine on democratic principles is happening, but it goes quite difficult, due to the transitional phase of development of the Ukrainian state and society, the lack of a clear strategy for the creation of the state. The specifics of the present stage of the creation of the state of Ukraine is the (...) need for the democratization of social relations, optimization of relations of the state and the citizen. However, state institutions are not yet ready for partnership with a man and a citizen. Personality is not considered by the state as an active subject of political and legal process, and as an object of influence on it by the state. In order to minimize the negative consequences of statehood in the period of transformation of the Ukrainian society, you must clearly understand democracy as a particular social system. Therefore, the concept of research is important in the consideration of essential level of democracy. Democracy as a social system must be considered in comparison with the totalitarian system, which will allow a deeper understanding of the essential features of the transformation period, which is our country. In the article the comparative analysis of democracy and totalitarianism as a social system. Highlighted the essential features of social systems: the nature of the interaction between the ruling elite and society, the way to the emergence of the social system, the principle of organization of the social system, the nature of the relationship with the external environment, the nature of the social system, the nature of the relationship of internal elements, the prevailing state of social relations, and others. It is proved that the social system of a democratic society is characterized by the dominance of liberal governance, self­organization, pluralism, transparency, non­linearity and dynamic, different directional conflict, the prevalence of such methods of conflict resolution as a compromise, consensus and others. For a totalitarian social system characterized by: the prevalence of extreme authoritarianism, monism, linearity and balance, rigidity, pseudo­harmony, the suppression of conflict by means of terror and others. Comparative analysis of the demographic and social system of totalitarianism allows you to clearly understand the differences between them and to identify targets that need to be guided in the process of reforming the political, economic and spiritual systems of the Ukrainian society, the rights and freedoms of man and citizen. (shrink)