The political system of society, its structure

When discussing the political sphere of public life, we usually imagine a set of certain phenomena, objects and actors that are associated with the concept of "politics". These are parties, the state, political norms, institutions (such as suffrage or monarchy), symbols (flag, coat of arms, anthem), values of political culture, etc. All these structural elements of policy do not exist in isolation, independently of each other, but constitute system - a set, all parts of which are interconnected so that a change in at least one part leads to changes in the entire system. The elements of the political system are ordered, interdependent and form a certain systemic integrity.

The political system can name the ordered set of norms, institutions, organizations, ideas, as well as the relationships and interactions between them, during which political power is exercised.

A complex of state and non-state institutions that carry out political functions, that is, activities related to the functioning of state power.

The concept of a political system is more capacious than the concept of "public administration", since it covers all persons and all institutions involved in the political process, as well as informal and non-governmental factors and phenomena that affect the mechanism for identifying and posing problems, the development and implementation of solutions in the field of state-power relations. In the broadest interpretation, the concept of "political system" includes everything that is related to politics.

The political system is characterized:

, traditions and customs.

The political system carries out the following functions:

conversion, that is, the transformation of social demands into political decisions;
adaptation, that is, the adaptation of the political system to the changing conditions of social life;
mobilization of human and material resources (funds, voters, etc.) to achieve political goals.

protective function - protection of the socio-political system, its original basic values and principles;
foreign policy - the establishment and development of mutually beneficial relations with other states;
consolidating - harmonization of collective interests and requirements of various social groups;
distribution - the creation and distribution of material and spiritual values;

Classification of political systems

There are various classifications of political systems.

Under political culture understand an integral part of the spiritual culture of mankind, which includes a set of political knowledge, values and behaviors, as well as the political language, symbols and traditions of statehood.

All elements of the political system, being in constant interaction, contribute to the performance of important social functions:

determination of perspective directions of social development;
optimization of society's movement towards its goals;
allocation of resources;
coordination of interests of various subjects; involvement of citizens in active participation in politics;
development of norms and rules of conduct for members of society;
control over the implementation of norms, laws and regulations;
ensuring stability and security in society.

The political system includes the following institutions:

and his ;
socio-political movements;
pressure groups, or .

State

In relation to the political system, parties are divided into systemic and non-systemic. Systemic form part of a given political system and act according to those rules, guided by its laws. The system party fights for power by legal methods, that is, accepted in this system, in elections. Non-system parties do not recognize this political system, fight for its change or elimination - as a rule, by force. They are usually illegal or semi-legal.

The role of the party in the political system determined by its authority and the trust of voters. It is the parties that formulate the one that the state implements when this party becomes the ruling one. In democratic systems, as a rule, there is a rotation of the party: they move from the ruling to the opposition, and from the opposition - back to the ruling. According to the number of parties, political systems are classified as follows: one-party - authoritarian or totalitarian; two-party; multi-party (the latter prevail). The Russian political system is multi-party.

Socio-political movements

Socio-political movements occupy an insignificant place in political systems. In terms of their goals, the movements are similar to political parties, but they do not have a charter and registered membership. In Russia socio-political movements are not allowed to participate in elections: they cannot nominate their own candidates for deputies; an organization that sets itself political goals, but does not have 50 thousand members, is transferred to public organizations.

Pressure groups or interest groups

Pressure groups, or interest groups - trade unions, industrial organizations, large monopolies(especially transnational ones), the church, the media and other institutions are organizations that do not have the goal of coming to power. Their goal is to exert such pressure on the government that it satisfies their specific interest - for example, lower taxes.

All of the listed structural elements, state and non-state institutions act, as a rule, in accordance with certain political norms and traditions that have been developed as a result of extensive experience. , shall we say, should be an election, not a parody. For example, it is normal for each ballot to have at least two candidates. Among the political traditions, one can note the holding of rallies, demonstrations with political slogans, meetings of candidates and deputies with voters.

Means of political influence

State power is only the power of the state, but the power of the entire political system. Political power functions through a whole range of institutions and appears to be rather impersonal.

Means of political influence- is a set of political institutions, relationships and ideas that personifies a certain. The mechanism of such influence is the system of government, or the system of political authorities.

The functions of the system of political authorities are reactions to the influence of subjects entering this system: demands and support.

Requirements The most frequently encountered by representatives of the authorities are related to:

with the distribution of benefits (for example, demands regarding wages and working hours, improved transport);
ensuring public safety;
improvement of sanitary conditions, conditions of education, health care, etc.;
processes in the field of communication and information (information about policy goals and decisions made by rulers, demonstration of available resources, etc.).

Support community strengthens the position of officials and the system of government itself. It is grouped in the following areas:

material support (payment of taxes and other charges, provision of services to the system, such as volunteer work or military service);
compliance with laws and directives;
participation in political life (voting, demonstrations and other forms);
attention to official information, loyalty, respect for official symbols and ceremonies.

The response of the system of government to the impact of various actors is grouped into three main functions:

rule-making (development of laws that actually determine the legal forms of behavior of individual groups and people in society);
enforcement of laws;
control over compliance with laws.

A more detailed list of the functions of a government system might look like this: The distribution function is expressed in the organization of the creation and distribution of material and spiritual values, honors, status positions in accordance with the "table of ranks" in a given political system. The foreign policy function implies the establishment and development of mutually beneficial relations with foreign organizations. The program-strategic function means the definition of goals, objectives, ways of development of society, the development of specific programs for its activities. The mobilization function implies the attraction and organization of human, material and other resources to perform various social tasks. The function of political socialization is the ideological integration of social groups and individuals into the political community, the formation of a collective political consciousness. The protective function is the protection of this form of political relations in the community, its original basic values and principles, ensuring external and internal security.

Thus, in response to the influence of various political actors, the system of government brings about changes in the community and at the same time maintains stability in it. The ability to quickly and adequately respond to requirements, achieve goals, keep political relations within the recognized norms ensures the effectiveness of the government system.

There are various classifications of political systems.

Political regime - it is a set of principles of organization and functioning of the institutions of political power.

The principles by which the functioning of political systems is divided are:

§ way of making power decisions;

§ Limits of government interference in the regulation of public relations.

By way of making decisions one can distinguish between democratic and authoritarian political systems.

Another sign of the division of political systems is the limits of government interference in the regulation of social relations. Liberal and totalitarian political regimes are distinguished by this criterion.

According to the socio-economic basis, they are divided into the following types.

Totalitarian-distributive. They are based on the state-owned economy and the state distribution of material wealth. The political regime in such a system is totalitarian.

Liberal Democratic. They are based on a market economy and are characterized by a democratic political regime.

Convergence and mobilization. They are based on a combination of state intervention in the economy with the market. Such systems usually correspond to a regime of varying degrees of authoritarianism.

Elements of the political system

It is obvious that in each specific society its own specific political system is formed, since its constituent elements - traditions, institutions, political values, etc. are different in different societies. Note that politics is open system, i.e. it actively interacts with other spheres of society's life - economic, spiritual, social, influencing them and experiencing a reciprocal influence.

There are various reasons for highlighting the main elements of the political system. Consider the first of the classifications, in which subsystems are distinguished:

§ organizational and institutional - these are organizations (social groups, revolutionary movements, etc.) and institutions - parliamentarism, parties, civil service, judiciary, citizenship, presidency, etc.;

§ normative-regulatory - political, legal and moral norms, customs and traditions;

§ communicative - relations, connections and forms of interaction between participants in the political process, as well as between the political system as a whole and society;

§ cultural and ideological - political ideas, ideology, political culture, political psychology.

Organizational and institutional subsystem

Political organization- an organized group of people acting together to achieve a specific political goal, for example: a political party; socio-political movement; an initiative group of citizens nominating a candidate for deputies; a public association that influences state policy; a cell of revolutionaries, etc. You can also single out organizations that have political goals, but these goals are not the main ones for them (for example, trade unions or the church). Finally, some organizations do not have explicit political goals (for example, a club of mushroom pickers), but under certain conditions they can act as political organizations.

political institution- a more complex element of the political system, which is a stable type of social interaction that regulates a certain area of the political sphere of society. The Institute performs an important function (or several functions) that is significant for the whole society, while forming an ordered system of social roles and rules of interaction.

Examples of political institutions are parliamentarism, the institution of civil service, institutions of executive power, the institution of the head of state, the presidency, the monarchy, the judiciary, citizenship, suffrage, political parties, etc. The main institution in the political system is the state.

Communication subsystem

To communicative component The political system of a society includes relations, connections, forms of interaction and communication, which are formed during the course of political activity.

In order to achieve their political goals, participants in political activity (institutions, organizations, large social communities, individuals) must build various relationships between themselves and the social environment. Connections, forms of interaction and communication that develop in this process represent a communicative subsystem of the political system of society. For example, this is the interaction of parliamentary committees; ties that arise between parties and state bodies; relations between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government; communication between the state and the population, etc.

Channels of connection play an important role in the communicative subsystem, through which information about the needs of the population is transmitted from the population to the state (this can be open hearings, commissions of inquiry, opinion polls, election results) and vice versa - from the state to the population (the media play an important role here, which acquaint the population with political decisions, adopted laws, etc.).

Norms of political interaction include political, legal and moral norms, as well as customs and traditions.

Cultural and ideological subsystem

In cultural and ideological component of the political system included political ideas, attitudes, ideas, beliefs and feelings of political participants. Conventionally, in the cultural and ideological component, a political and psychological level can be distinguished, which deals mainly with the behavioral aspects of politics, and a political and ideological level, focused on political theory.

Political psychology focuses on the behavior of individuals, groups and entire societies, as well as their motivations, moods, opinions, feelings, emotions, beliefs, delusions, etc. Of particular importance here are the psychology of the crowd, the charisma of leaders, the manipulation of mass consciousness, etc.

Political ideology represents a higher level and includes political ideas, concepts, theories, teachings. The political culture is the center of the political-ideological level.

All elements of the political system, being in constant interaction, contribute to the performance of important social functions:

§ identification of promising areas of social development;

§ optimization of society's movement towards its goals;

§ allocation of resources;

§ coordination of interests of various subjects; involvement of citizens in active participation in politics;

§ development of norms and rules of conduct for members of society;

§ control over the implementation of norms, laws and regulations;

§ Ensuring stability and security in society.

The political system includes the following institutions:

§ the state and its bodies;

§ political parties;

§ social and political movements;

§ pressure groups, or interest groups.

State

State - the main system-forming element, it unites all other elements of the political system into a single whole. The state is the most powerful subject of politics, because it imposes power and the ability to coerce. At the same time, the state and the object of political struggle, the "prize" for various political forces in the struggle for the possession of the state machine. It's not always functions in the political system as a whole. In the course of the political struggle, individual organs of the state may acquire independent significance (as a result of the confrontation of political forces): for example, an army that carries out a coup d'état. In the conflict between the president of Russia and the Supreme Soviet (parliament) in 1993, the president represented one political force, while the parliament represented another. Such a situation cannot exist for a long time, since it destabilizes the political system.

The state and state power are a reward for the party that won the elections. In such political systems, there are developed parties and fairly effective control over power.

The relatively important role of the state and the bureaucracy as independent entities in the exercise of power, along with the parties, whose role is also quite significant.

Political parties

A party is an organization that unites citizens of the same political views to fight for power or to implement their program in the suit.

The party is an ideological organization. The ideology (philosophy) of a party is the totality of ideas by which it is guided in its activities.

According to ideological principles, parties are divided into:

§ conservative;

§ liberal;

§ democratic;

§ social democratic;

§ socialist;

§ communist;

§ Nationalist.

The party has a permanent organizational structure and leadership, must have a charter and registered membership. Under Russian law, a party is an organization with at least 50,000 members. The party has a program with specific proposals that it intends to implement when it comes to power, or implements it as the ruling party.

Party goal- win and hold state power. If an organization does not set such a goal, then it is not a political party. Political parties usually represent the interests of certain social groups.

The role of the party in the political system determined by its authority and the trust of voters. It is the parties that formulate the policy that the state implements when a given party becomes the ruling one. In democratic systems, as a rule, there is a rotation of the party: they move from the ruling to the opposition, and from the opposition - again to the ruling. According to the number of parties, political systems are classified as follows: one-party - authoritarian or totalitarian: two-party; multi-party (the latter prevail). The Russian political system is multi-party.

Depending on the approach to the analysis of political systems in political science, there are various options for their typology and classification. The choice of option is also determined by those features, characteristics or functions of political systems that are considered as the main ones. The most common typology is based on the transfer of the features of the main political regimes (democratic, totalitarian, authoritarian) to the political system as a whole. Therefore, democratic, totalitarian and authoritarian political systems are distinguished. Another option, based on the Marxist approach, suggests that the main function of the political system is to ensure the stability of a certain type of property relations, and its essence is determined by the interests of the class that, at a given period of historical time, acts as the dominant one in the economic sphere of social life. Accordingly, political systems are classified as slaveholding, feudal, bourgeois, socialist. An alternative to the formational approach is the division of political systems into traditional and modern (modernized). Traditional systems are characterized by weak development of civil society structures, the stability of the ruling elites, the perception of power as the main, pivotal element of political life, reaching the point of its deification in one form or another. These systems, as a rule, have considerable stability, but they are conservative, it is difficult to perceive innovations, and are incapable of self-development. Their collapse opens the way to modernization, the vector of which is the formation of a liberal democracy, where civil society is developed, the concept of natural human rights is recognized, and the government fulfills the will of the voters. It is assumed, for example, that all mankind can achieve a single, universal for all model of post-industrialism, which will correspond to a typical liberal-democratic scheme for organizing the political sphere of society, upon reaching which acute contradictions will disappear on a global scale. This position is disputed by those who emphasize the ambiguity of the terms "democracy". In different countries, as noted, democracy is understood as different, often opposite, processes and signs of political life, as well as unequal political cultures are artificially combined. The democratic political system is characterized by a variety of forms of ownership, the power of the majority of citizens in the state while respecting the rights and freedoms of the minority, the rule of law, separation of powers, and minimal state interference in the economic activities of society. Intervention in the privacy of citizens consists in the prohibition of those forms of their activity that can harm other members of society. A democratic political system is characterized by political and ideological pluralism and a multi-party system. Political parties fight for power and come to power only on the basis of legal norms through participation in free elections. Many contemporary political systems in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are pre-industrial and often authoritarian. These political systems are characterized by a mixed political structure: a combination of Western values, their own ethnic and religious traditions of ruling. The eclecticism of the political culture of systems of this type is very different from the fragmentation of the political culture of Western European systems, combining the most unexpected opposites. These systems have an indistinct separation of powers. The army and the bureaucracy often take over legislative functions, the legislature intervenes in judicial procedures, party decisions often take the place of state decisions. These systems are characterized by personal authoritarianism, the power of one party, and a high potential for violence. Political participation is limited at best to the local level. Examples of political systems of a totalitarian type are fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, the USSR of the Stalinist era. In this type of system, voluntary political associations and dissent are not allowed, all coercive power is monopolized by an illegitimate bureaucratic state apparatus, which, in turn, is controlled by one political party. Such a political system appears to be unified (homogeneous), although in reality its unity is artificial. There are no independent interest groups in a totalitarian type system. Political participation is very peculiar, decorative, but massive. Political communication is strictly controlled by the center. Excessive centralization and a high, although not always obvious, degree of violence are characteristic. However, since a socialist political system built only on coercion is unthinkable, certain democratic-role processes operate in it: social and property equality of citizens; the predominance of coercive roles, combined with popular initiative, competitiveness; use in the process of ruling only public property in two varieties - state and collective-farm-cooperative; functional inaccuracy of the power roles of the bureaucracy, the party, the army, the security services, which often have to perform uncharacteristic tasks of cultural, mass, economic and other activities. In totalitarian systems, there is no real delegation of power and the creation of other centers of power than the party nomenclature. The functions of the bureaucracy, the army and the secret services are expanded or limited, new functions are introduced or existing ones are canceled, depending on the needs of the ruling party. The existence of any political system in time is characterized as a process of change, development or degradation of political relations and institutions. The evolution of the political system is connected in general with the complication of the system itself and its subsystems, the expansion of the political participation of the masses in the life of society, the reorganization of relations between the authorities and the people, etc. Political systems can move from open to closed bases of operation, and vice versa. The dynamism of a political system is different from instability. It determines the ability of the system to develop, adapt to changes in society and the world, and respond to them. Rigid static systems are inevitably forced to oppose the development of society, come into conflict with it, resort to violence and ultimately survive at the expense of society or violence. In ancient societies, such systems could exist for a long time and perished mainly under the influence of foreign invasion. In modern times, the life of such systems has been reduced. Thus, the elements and functions of the political system are not static and passive. They are dynamic and active. This activity eventually creates a certain political "climate" in society, in which the political regime plays a decisive role. Basic concepts Political system of society, typology of political systems, democratic political system, totalitarian political system, authoritarian political system, mixed political system. 5.3.

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The state as an element of the political system of society The state is an organization of political power that promotes the predominant implementation of specific interests (class, universal, religious, national, etc.) within a certain territory. The state is part of the political system, its element, concentrating the diversity of political interests. It occupies a leading place in the political system of society. The political system is an integral, ordered set of elements, the interaction of which generates a new quality that is not inherent in its parts. The main elements of the political system are political institutions: 1. state; 2. political parties; 3. public organizations and associations; 4. institutions of direct democracy (elections, referenda, demonstrations, rallies, etc.).

Functions of the state The main function of the state is to ensure comfortable living for its citizens. To this end, the state performs a number of tasks: management of the economy and society; defense of their own territory. With the development of social relations, the possibility of a more civilized behavior of the state arose. The nature of the state and its position in the political system presuppose the presence of a number of specific functions that distinguish it from other political institutions. The functions of the state are the main directions of its activities related to the sovereignty of state power. The goals and objectives of the state differ from functions, reflecting the main directions of the political strategy chosen by this or that government or regime, the means of its implementation. political institutions sovereignty

Classification of the functions of the state The functions of the state are classified: according to the sphere of public life: into internal and external, according to the duration of action: into permanent (performed at all stages of the development of the state) and temporary (reflecting a certain stage in the development of the state), by value: into basic and additional, according to visibility: on explicit and latent, on the impact on society: on protective and regulatory.

The main classification is the division of state functions into internal and external. Internal functions of the state: The legal function of ensuring law and order, establishing legal norms governing social relations and the behavior of citizens, protecting the rights and freedoms of man and citizen. Legallaw and order Political function ensuring political stability, development of program-strategic goals and objectives of the development of society. Political Organizing function streamlining all power activities, monitoring the implementation of laws, coordinating the activities of all subjects of the political system. Organizing function Economic function organization, coordination and regulation of economic processes, with the help of tax and credit policy, planning, creating incentives for economic activity, the implementation of sanctions. Economic tax credit

The social function is to ensure solidarity relations in society, cooperation of various strata of society, implement the principle of social justice, protect the interests of those categories of citizens who, due to objective reasons, cannot independently provide a decent standard of living (disabled people, pensioners, mothers, children), support for housing construction, health care, public transport systems. Social function Ecological function Guaranteeing a healthy living environment for a person, establishing a regime for nature management. Ecological cultural function - creation of conditions for meeting the cultural needs of people, the formation of high spirituality, citizenship, guaranteeing an open information space, the formation of a state cultural policy. Cultural state cultural policy Educational function - activities to ensure the democratization of education, its continuity and quality, providing people with equal opportunities to receive education. educational

External functions of the state: The foreign policy function is the development of diplomatic relations between states, the conclusion of international treaties, participation in international organizations. Foreign policy function of diplomatic relations The function of ensuring national security Maintaining a sufficient level of defense capability of society, protecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty and security of the state .international relations The function of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic, political, cultural and other spheres with other states.

The word "politics" comes from the Greek politike, which means in translation "state affairs", "the art of government". Politics is the activity of state bodies, political parties, public associations in the sphere of relations between social groups (classes, nations, states), aimed at integrating their efforts in order to strengthen political power or conquer it. The category "political system" reflects the purposefulness of the political process. The purpose of the functioning of the political system is to ensure power in society.

The political system includes four components: 1) the political organization of society: the state, political parties and movements, public organizations and associations, etc.; 2) socio-political and legal norms governing the political life of society and the process of exercising political power; political relations; 3) political ideology: political consciousness that characterizes the psychological and ideological aspects of political power and the political system; 4) political practice, consisting of political activity and cumulative political experience.

The structure of the political system means what elements it consists of, how they are interconnected. There are various political systems. The basis for the classification of political systems, as a rule, is the political regime, that is, the nature and method of interaction between power, personality and society. Let's call them without disclosing the content: = distributive type, market, convergent, = liberal-democratic, totalitarian, authoritarian, = open and closed, etc.

The political system of society is understood as the totality of various political institutions, socio-political communities, forms of interactions and relationships between them, in which political power is exercised. In the political system, the main role is played by the state, which ensures the political organization of society. Many scholars give a number of arguments to justify the dominant place of the state in the political system of society: “The state solves the country's common problems. » It is the only sovereign organization nationwide. » It defines the main directions for the development of society in the interests of each and every person. » Is the official representative of common interests and goals both within the country and abroad.

The political system of society is a category that reflects political activity and emphasizes the systemic nature of the political life of society. Political science distinguishes four main elements of the political system, sometimes called subsystems: institutional, communicative, normative and cultural-ideological. The institutional subsystem includes political institutions (organizations), among which the state occupies a special place. Of non-governmental organizations, political parties and socio-political movements play an important role in the political life of society. Elements of the political system

The communicative subsystem of the political system of society is a set of relations and forms of interaction that develop between classes, social groups, nations, individuals regarding their participation in the exercise of power, the development and implementation of policies. Political relations are the result of numerous and varied connections of political subjects in the process of political activity. People and political institutions are motivated to join them by their own political interests and needs. Allocate primary and secondary (derivative) political relations. The former include various forms of interaction between social groups (classes, nations, estates, etc.), as well as within them, the latter include relations between states, parties, and other political institutions that reflect in their activities the interests of certain social strata or the whole society.

Normative subsystem. Political relations are built on the basis of certain rules (norms). Political norms and traditions that determine and regulate the political life of society constitute the normative subsystem of the political system of society. The most important role is played by legal norms (constitutions, laws, other normative legal acts). The activities of parties and other public organizations are regulated by their charter and program norms.

The cultural and ideological subsystem of the political system is a set of political ideas, views, ideas, feelings of political life participants that are different in their content. The political consciousness of the subjects of the political process functions at two levels: theoretical (political ideology) and empirical (political psychology). The forms of manifestation of political ideology include views, slogans, ideas, concepts, theories, and political psychology includes feelings, emotions, moods, prejudices, traditions, but they are equal in the political life of society. In the ideological subsystem, a special place is occupied by political culture, understood as a complex of ingrained patterns (stereotypes) of behavior, value orientations, and political ideas that are typical for a given society. Political culture is the experience of political activity passed down from generation to generation, in which knowledge, beliefs and behavior patterns of a person and social groups are combined.

The concept and structure of the political system of society

The category "political system" reflects the purposefulness of the political process. The purpose of the functioning of the political system is to ensure power in society.

Modern philosophical science has not developed a single definition of the concept of "system". The most common is the definition given by L. Bertalanffy, one of the founders of the general theory of systems: system is a complex of interacting elements. In its turn element some further indecomposable component of the system is called, which is directly involved in its creation. Also, along with the idea of the elements, the idea of any system includes the idea of its structure. Structure is a set of stable relationships and connections between elements. The structure usually includes the general organization of elements, the relationships between them, etc.

For the analysis of complex systems, similar to those, which, for example, is a human society, scientists have developed the concept of "subsystem". Subsystems called "intermediate" complexes, more complex than the elements, but less complex than the system itself.

One of the definitions authorities characterizes it as a social phenomenon, as the real ability of a certain subject (an individual, a social community, a political institution) to exercise his will in social life, to influence the activities, behavior of people with the help of certain means - authority, law, violence. The leadership of society by a certain social group (or coalition of groups), which has a decisive influence on the power structures of the state, is precisely political power. Based on the understanding of politics as a way of redistributing social statuses in society, political power is associated with the struggle of social groups for the distribution of social values in a socially differentiated (class) society. In terms of its scope, political power is much broader than state power: state power is only one of the organizational forms of political power.

The word "politics" comes from the Greek politics, which means in translation "state affairs", "the art of government".

Politics has not always existed. Among the reasons for its occurrence can be called the polarization of society, leading to the emergence of social contradictions and conflicts that need to be resolved, as well as the increased level of complexity and importance of managing society, which required the formation of special authorities separated from the people. The emergence of political and state power is the most important prerequisite for politics.

Science offers different definitions of politics.

Politics- these are relations between states, classes, social groups, nations, arising from the capture, exercise and retention of political power in society, as well as relations between states in the international arena.

Politics- this is the activity of state bodies, political parties, public associations in the field of relations between social groups (classes, nations, states), aimed at integrating their efforts in order to strengthen political power or conquer it.

Politics- the sphere of activity of groups, parties, individuals, the state, associated with the implementation of generally significant interests with the help of political power.

Political life includes not only the state, but also other non-state institutions and organizations that also carry out some political functions. These are parties, public and other organizations participating in power structures. All of them enter into certain volitional relations regarding the exercise of political power. Their totality, organic connection and interaction within the state means the political system of society.

The political system includes four components:

1) the political organization of society: the state, political parties and movements, public organizations and associations, etc.;

2) socio-political and legal norms governing the political life of society and the process of exercising political power; political relations;

3) political ideology: political consciousness that characterizes the psychological and ideological aspects of political power and the political system;

4) political practice, consisting of political activity and cumulative political experience.

The structure of the political system means what elements it consists of, how they are interconnected.

There are various political systems. The basis for the classification of political systems, as a rule, is the political regime, that is, the nature and method of interaction between power, personality and society. Let's call them without disclosing the content:

Distribution type, market, convergent,

liberal democratic, totalitarian, authoritarian,

Open and closed, etc.

Civil society functions at several levels: production, socio-cultural and political and legal. On the first level citizens create associations or organizations (private, joint-stock enterprises, professional associations) to meet their basic needs for food, clothing, housing; on the second- to meet the needs for spiritual improvement, knowledge, information, communication and faith, such public institutions as the family, church, media, creative unions are created; third level constitute political and legal relations in which the needs of citizens in political activity are realized. To do this, they create parties and political movements that are elements of the political system of society.

From this we can conclude that the political system in society performs a variety of specific functions, which include:

Definition of goals, objectives, ways of development of society;

Organization of the company's activities to achieve the set goals;

Distribution of material and spiritual resources;

Coordination of the various interests of the subjects of the political process;

Development and implementation in society of various norms of behavior;

Ensuring the stability and security of society;

Political socialization of the individual, introducing people to political life;

Control over the implementation of political and other norms of summing up, suppression of attempts to violate them.

Under political system of society understand the totality of various political institutions, socio-political communities, forms of interaction and relationships between them, in which political power is exercised.

In the political system, the main role is played by the state, which ensures the political organization of society. Many scientists, in support of the dominant place of the state in the political system of society, give a number of arguments:

» The state solves the common problems of the country.

» It is the only sovereign organization nationwide.

» It defines the main directions for the development of society in the interests of each and every person.

» Is the official representative of common interests and goals both within the country and abroad.

The political system reflects the level of political creativity in society, the nature of the political participation of the population in society, the processes of legal consolidation of power, the distribution of political roles, etc. It has a huge impact on culture, economy, ideology, being a necessary element of all social reality.

Elements of the political system

Political science distinguishes four main elements of the political system, sometimes called subsystems: institutional, communicative, normative and cultural-ideological.

To institutional subsystem include political institutions (organizations), among which the state occupies a special place. Of non-governmental organizations, political parties and socio-political movements play an important role in the political life of society.

All political institutions can be conditionally divided into three groups.

To the first group, actually political include organizations whose immediate purpose of existence is the exercise of power or influence on it (the state, political parties and socio-political movements).

To the second group- not actually political - include organizations that carry out their activities in the economic, social, cultural spheres of society (trade unions, religious and cooperative organizations, etc.). They do not set themselves independent political tasks, do not participate in the struggle for power. However, their goals cannot be achieved outside the political system, and therefore such organizations must participate in the political life of society, defending their corporate interests, seeking to take them into account and implement them in politics.

To the third group include organizations whose activities have only a minor political aspect. They arise and function to realize the personal interests and inclinations of a certain stratum of people (interest clubs, sports societies), acquiring a political connotation as objects of influence from the state and other political institutions proper. They themselves are not active subjects of political relations.

Communication subsystem the political system of society is a set of relations and forms of interaction that develop between classes, social groups, nations, individuals regarding their participation in the exercise of power, the development and implementation of policies.

Political relations are the result of numerous and varied connections of political subjects in the process of political activity. People and political institutions are motivated to join them by their own political interests and needs. Allocate primary and secondary(derivative) political relations. The former include various forms of interaction between social groups (classes, nations, estates, etc.), as well as within them, the latter - relations between states, parties, other political institutions that reflect in their activities the interests of certain social strata or the whole society.

Normative subsystem. Political relations are built on the basis of certain rules (norms). The political norms and traditions that determine and regulate the political life of society constitute regulatory subsystem political system of society. The most important role is played by legal norms (constitutions, laws, other normative legal acts). The activities of parties and other public organizations are regulated by their charter and program norms. In many countries (especially in England and its former colonies), along with political norms fixed in the texts of legal acts, unwritten customs and traditions are of great importance.

Another group of social norms is ethical and moral norms, which enshrine the ideas of the whole society or its individual strata about good and evil, truth, and justice. Modern society has come close to realizing the need to return such moral guidelines as honor, conscience, and nobility to politics.

Cultural and ideological subsystem political system is a combination of political ideas, views, ideas, feelings of political life participants, different in their content. The political consciousness of the subjects of the political process functions at two levels - theoretical (political ideology) and empirical (political psychology). The forms of manifestation of political ideology include views, slogans, ideas, concepts, theories, and political psychology - feelings, emotions, moods, prejudices, traditions, but in the political life of society they are equal. In the ideological subsystem, a special place is occupied by political culture, understood as a complex of ingrained patterns (stereotypes) of behavior, value orientations, and political ideas that are typical for a given society.

Political culture is the experience of political activity passed down from generation to generation, in which knowledge, beliefs and behavior patterns of a person and social groups are combined.

The political system is an integral, ordered set of elements, the interaction of which generates a new quality that is not inherent in its parts.

The main elements of the political system are political institutions:

1. state;
2. political parties;
3. public organizations and associations;
4. institutions of direct democracy (elections, referendums, demonstrations, rallies, etc.).