| Summary: | The analysis of scientific contribution, given by T.I. Zaslavskaya into development of theory of social structure and sociological comprehension of structural mechanisms of changes in the Soviet and post-Soviet societies, is submitted. On the basis of the T. Zaslavskaya’s texts the essential ideas about social structure as a basic component of mechanism of social life are stated. The prospects for application of this scientific knowledge in sociological study of social phenomenon and processes are outlined. The theory of social structure, which was logically completed at the end of the 1990s, develops a complex relational approach to interpretation of structure as a system of relations between social groups as well as a system of social inequality. It is argued proximity of T. Zaslavskaya’s theoretical principles to the contemporary way of theoretical synthesis in Sociology which draws together the structural, agency, and cultural strategies in explanation of social life. It is resulted in analytical differentiation of three basic structural parameters which form a social relation network. These parameters are useful for sociological measurement of social structure. The epistemological value of the empirical “vertical” model of social structure is explored that allows the author to detect a deep conflict inside the social structure of the ‘late’ Soviet society as well as to find the main tendencies of structural transformation under the post-Socialism. It is paid attention to the special theoretical and practical value of the conceptual ideas about three levels of complexity of the qualitative societal changes developed by T. Zaslavskaya. These ideas are formed in line with the works on neo-institutional theory by D. Nort. The theory of social structure is been developed and realized by T.I. Zaslavskaya within the strong research program which included: the scaled theoretical and methodological elaboration aimed at explanation of the regularities of social development; application of the theoretical elaboration in empirical investigations; empirically-grounded findings which were proposed for political decision-making and public policy.
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