Participation of citizens in political life. Citizen participation in political life
Citizen participation in political life is considered an essential element of modern society. With its help, people become active subjects of political life, influence important social problems, and determine the conditions of their own existence.
Features of participation
The participation of citizens in the political life of the country is a type of political activity. It consists in the influence of citizens on the adoption of various important decisions in the state.
Character traits
It is necessary to make certain clarifications to this term. Citizen participation in political life presupposes the influence of ordinary citizens on the life of society. This term does not take into account officials vested with state power who perform direct management functions.
The participation of citizens in the political life of the state is not related to the professional activities of people who are part of the security, executive, representative, and government structures. Officials and professional politicians act as ordinary citizens of the country only during the voting procedure.
Participation options
The opportunity for citizens to participate in political life is voluntary and not mandatory for all residents.
All activities that relate to “participation for money” do not relate to an active life position. Citizen participation in political life should not be associated with campaigning for a candidate or party.
Absenteeism
This is the reluctance of citizens to take an active part in political life, which is explained by a lack of interest in this aspect of social life. Currently, this quality is demonstrated by citizens during voting.
Forms of participation
Let us consider the main forms of citizen participation in political life. Among them, mass demonstrations are of particular interest. These include picketing, demonstrations, rallies, and strikes.
In addition, the participation of citizens in the political life of society is manifested in voting in referendums and elections. Citizens can express their own position and opinion about the activities of various political parties using the media. Ordinary citizens can submit their opinions on the adoption of certain laws and the level of their implementation in the form of appeals and letters to executive authorities.
Citizen participation in political life is also manifested in the form of control of deputies and constant contact with local authorities. People now have the opportunity to monitor the activities of municipal and state bodies.
Common option
What are the opportunities for citizens to participate in political life? The most common form of such activity can be considered participation in various elections. In countries with developed democracies, the number of citizens who take part in national election campaigns reaches 90 percent. The average figure is 50-80 percent.
Classification
What are the opportunities for citizens to participate in political life? Given the variety of forms, it is customary to classify them on different grounds. Legal participation is possible, which is permitted by law. Terrorism is an illegal type of political activity and is prohibited by law.
Depending on the number of participants, collective and individual political activities are distinguished.
By the nature of the actions, they note: constant action, characteristic of activists, as well as episodic participation of citizens in political life (elections, referendums).
Ordinary citizens can demonstrate their attitude to the actions of political parties and government agencies at the local or regional level.
Direction of action
Forms of participation differ in the focus of action. For example, citizens want to realize private interests during a rally, or a strike is aimed at resolving a serious situation in the city. The option for citizens to participate in political life also depends on the resources and efforts that participants will have to make in order to cope with the task they have set. For example, when demonstrating a protest regarding the reduction of employees at an enterprise, citizens must be prepared to overcome pressure from the company’s management.
Motivation for political participation
What opportunities for citizen participation in political life currently exist? Why do people strive for such activities? What is the main purpose of political participation? G. Parry, who has been studying this problem for several years, noted that there are three main explanations for the phenomenon of political participation.
The most common form of participation is the instrumental model. The main motive is the possibility of realizing group or individual interests. In this way, people try to get decisions and actions from government authorities that will be beneficial for them.
The communitarian model of participation in political life presupposes the use of people's desire to make positive changes in the life of society as a source and main motive. Citizens do not think about their own interests; they are driven by the desire to help other people eliminate some problems.
The educational model involves paying attention not to the sources of participation, but to the results of activities. The political activity of citizens is an important element of socialization. For some people, political participation turns into an important part of life, an opportunity to realize their abilities and creative potential.
The main motives for participation are rational-instrumental principles. The actions of citizens are aimed at the creation, adoption, and implementation of government decisions, the search for worthy representatives in government institutions.
Citizen groups
The scope of permissible participation is limited by the political rights of citizens. According to this indicator, the population is divided into two groups. One of them is the political elite. The basis of the activities of such people is politics. These include representatives of parties and state authorities. The second group contains ordinary people.
Their political activity is a voluntary activity, a desire to influence government bodies.
Some scholars take the position that participation is seen as a political action of both groups. There are also those who identify only the actions of ordinary citizens as political participation.
Not all people become professional public and political figures, so let's talk about the actions of ordinary citizens. There are two ways to participate in the political life of the country. The first option involves direct participation, the second - indirect (representative) action.
Examples of direct participation include attending rallies, participating in picketing, voting in elections, letters and appeals to government bodies, and activities in political parties.
Indirect participation is carried out by selecting representatives from parties and groups. It is to them that ordinary citizens delegate authority to make decisions. For example, a delegate will be able to become an active participant in a parliamentary commission, will negotiate with government agencies, and establish informal relationships with government officials.
These types of political participation correspond to specific political roles: party member, voter, petitioner. Regardless of the chosen role, active participation is expected, bringing a certain result.
Autonomous participation presupposes voluntary and free actions of citizens associated with the manifestation of a certain political position regarding the pursuit of personal or group interests.
Mobilized participation is a compulsory option; it presupposes the mandatory participation of citizens in demonstrations and elections. This option existed during the Soviet Union.
Citizens who refused to support the political line pursued in the country were punished with a “ruble” and career advancement. Mobilized participation prevails in authoritarian and totalitarian political regimes. In a democratic state, citizens are expected to participate autonomously in the political life of society.
American political scientist S. Verba emphasized that only in a democratic society can we talk about an effective mechanism for the political participation of ordinary citizens in the life of society. This is manifested in the transmission by people who are not professional politicians of information about their own preferences, interests, and needs to government officials.
For example, citizens who are outraged by the injustice that exists in society draw up petitions, appear on television, and prepare letters of protest to government agencies. In specific situations, it is possible to organize rallies and strikes aimed at solving the current problem.
This behavior of the population brings positive results. The authorities are forced to listen to the position of ordinary citizens and adjust the decision made.
Conclusion
Every citizen has the right to participate in the political life of his country. To take advantage of it, two main factors are needed: the consciousness of the individual, the culture of democracy. The basis for the creation of the main political processes is the direct participation of people in the political life of their state.
The political participation of citizens is influenced by the situation in society. Depending on the level of development of the state, it is possible to involve various segments of the population in such activities.
Social differentiation leads to the emergence of certain socio-political forces, for example, parties and organizations.
Does the average citizen have the opportunity to influence the political process? For what purpose is a culture of democracy being formed in modern society? Political activity is constantly subject to modernization; it is considered a dynamic system.
It includes social groups, people, and the ruling elite. Each structure pursues its own selfish interests and has a certain level of culture and education.
It is through the interaction of subjects of modern politics that conquest, containment, the use of state power, and the modernization of political processes in society take place.
Mechanisms for the participation of citizens and their associations (political parties, fronts and movements, foundations and voluntary associations, etc.) in political life should include political institutions and institutions that ensure the representation and protection of their interests in the highest legislative, judicial and executive bodies of the country. Examples include suffrage and voting, nominating candidates and running for office, the organization of political parties and associations, the institution of representation (tribunes of the people in ancient times and people's deputies today), the institution of citizenship, the activities of the media, etc.
Election system is designed to ensure popular sovereignty and representation of all interested groups and segments of the population in the system of power through parties. The role of expresser of popular sovereignty is assigned only to the electoral corps. Elections, in fact, are one of the leading institutions of legitimization (legitimization) of the existing political system and political regime. The act of voting in itself increases citizens' faith in the legitimacy and responsibility of government. Given this fact, in industrialized countries much attention is paid to preparing the younger generation to participate in the political and especially in the electoral process. A large role is given to the education system, as well as various mechanisms - from official celebrations of national holidays to events of patriotic organizations. Election campaigns themselves provide opportunities to promote the virtues of voting.
The role of the institution of general elections cannot be overestimated. By electing this or that party, this or that deputy, the people express their needs, aspirations, interests, complaints in the most peaceful and constitutional way, without resorting to uprising or expulsion, or revolution.
Of course, the elected government, the State Duma and the elected president are under very weak control of the people. This is both bad and good. It’s good because the need to “earn off” people’s trust, to build a policy only in accordance with promises made earlier or only at the behest of voters, would greatly constrain the hands of the authorities. Rulers who are responsible to the people are one thing, but rulers who are dependent and pandering to the people are something else entirely. This is how N. Machiavelli reasoned in his time.
In foreign countries, the relative ease with which the current government can be replaced reduces the severity of possible demands for change in the political regime itself and its institutions. This is due to the fact that the institution of general elections is one of the important elements of the modern political system. Without resorting to revolutionary violence, but using modern mechanisms of political participation, the people are still able to impose their will on the authorities.
If the institution of elections had not proven itself to be the most effective tool for political stabilization of society, then many countries would most likely abandon it. But now in the vast majority of countries there is universal suffrage.
Under suffrage two phenomena are understood: 1) a set of legal norms establishing the procedure for electing the head of state, representative bodies, etc.; 2) the right of a citizen to participate in elections, to vote (active suffrage) and to be elected (passive suffrage). Suffrage is usually regulated by the constitution and special election laws, which determine the procedure for nominating candidates, norms of representation, the procedure for determining voting results, etc. Suffrage gives people powerful channels of influence on political decision-making. However, this was not always the case.
In ancient Greece, slaves, foreigners, women and the poor were deprived of the right to vote. In Ancient Rome, for a long time, plebeians, the predominant mass of the free (i.e., not enslaved) population, were not allowed to vote. The property qualification limited the voting rights of citizens not only in antiquity, but also in modern times. Poor white men did not have the right to vote in the 19th century. in advanced countries such as the USA and England.
Under the US Constitution of 1787, thousands of black slaves were deprived of civil and human rights. It was not until 1870 that the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution was adopted, granting the right to vote to blacks. However, after the withdrawal of federal troops from the South in 1877, blacks were practically deprived of the opportunity to vote. Only starting in the 1920s did blacks begin to achieve some success in expanding the right to participate in elections. The laws of the 50-70s of the 20th century were important, removing restrictions on the participation of blacks in the electoral process. In South Africa, blacks were only allowed to join them in the mid-90s.
American women did not have the right to vote until 1920. In the Netherlands, for example, in 1800 the electorate included only 12% of the adult population, by 1890 this figure had risen to 27%, and in 1900 to 63%. Here, universal voting rights were introduced for men in 1917, and for women in 1919. In England this happened a little later - in 1928. Women received the right to vote in France in 1944, in Italy in 1945. , in Greece - in 1956. In Switzerland, this symbol of civilization and stability, women were first allowed to vote only in 1971.
In most countries the process and procedure election campaigns are regulated by law. For example, Japan's very strict electoral law prohibits making gifts to voters, attracting them with promises of promotion, visiting voters' houses for the purpose of election campaigning, etc. In Germany, it is prohibited to publish the results of public opinion polls two weeks before the election, and in England - on election day. The use of the media, especially television and radio, is sufficiently regulated. Thus, the legislation establishes the general period of time allocated to the media for conducting election campaigns, the principles of its distribution between parties and candidates, and a schedule is drawn up, according to which the total time is divided into days of the election campaign.
Vote- one of the most important forms of citizen participation in the political life of the country. Along with it, there are others, in particular, organization and participation in political and social movements, appealing to parliament and local legislative bodies with proposals and projects, participation in meetings and rallies, campaigning for a particular party, working as a party functionary, membership in a political club or organization, monetary donations to the party.
The voting procedure is approximately the same in all countries. It includes the following main elements: 1) registration in the voter list at the place of residence, 2) secret voting in a special booth, 3) use of the same list of candidates for all electoral districts, 4) the presence of third-party observers at the elections, monitoring the correctness of the voting procedure, 5) counting of ballots by a specially created commission, 6) official publication of voting results.
Elections assume that citizens are offered two or more candidates during the voting process, from among whom they can freely choose one. In most countries, elections are held on an alternative basis, i.e. voters are given the opportunity to choose one candidate from many. Elections can take place in one or two rounds. If out of several candidates none receives more than half the votes, a second round is organized. Elections are a game between a candidate and a voter, the rules of which are determined by democratic procedure.
In modern conditions, for the majority of the population, the main, and often the only form of participation in politics is participation in the electoral process. General elections make it possible to identify the balance of political forces in the country as a whole, in a particular region, state, land, at the municipal level, in an electoral district, to determine the degree of confidence of voters in a particular party, its specific leaders, candidates, program guidelines, etc. They allow voters to make a thoughtful, informed choice in favor of the party and program that, in their opinion, best suits their positions and interests.
The regulation of election campaigns is based on three most important principles:
1. Ensuring equality of opportunity for all parties and candidates participating in elections.
2. The requirement of loyalty, according to which candidates are obliged to behave respectfully towards their opponents.
3. The duty of non-interference of the state apparatus in the course of the election campaign.
The essence of the first condition is that all candidates in the elections are given the same maximum amount of campaign expenses. At the same time, the amounts of donations from individuals and organizations to election campaign funds are limited. At the same time, the state is involved in many campaigns. For example, in Russia it provides 30% of airtime free of charge for election campaigning. At the same time, all parties and candidates are guaranteed equal time for appearances on radio and television.
Although election etiquette does not allow any kind of falsification, insulting the enemy, humiliating his honor and dignity, etc., in Russia, since 1992, the so-called “war of incriminating evidence” has been constantly growing. During this struggle, opponents through the media provided negative and compromising information about almost every candidate and political party, some of which turned out to be fabricated. This happens not only here. If in the United States someone decides to vilely slander a neighbor, then in the event of a trial this can be very expensive.
The election campaign is another matter. Slander of candidates is not punishable! These are the rules of the game. It is not surprising that candidates, incensed by complete impunity, are “bathing each other in the mud.” Each state of the country has its own customs and traditions. If in the north, where people from Scandinavia predominate, people do not even think about the possibility of any fraud in the elections, then in the south, on the contrary, people are sincerely perplexed as to how voting can take place without this. At the end of the 20th century in the United States, voters were forced to fill out questionnaires indicating height, weight, eye and hair color. This is done so that there is no substitution. Each ballot paper and its counterfoil have its own number - like on a dollar.
During the election campaign, not only traditional posters, stickers, badges are used, but sometimes even the most unusual items. Let's say, in the USA, one of the candidates used... fly swatters, which were given to voters. You swat flies, and the name of the candidate on the handle flashes before your eyes. You will inevitably remember him!
The state structure and political life in society are largely determined by the way in which the population expresses its will on key issues. One of them is the institution of referendum. Referendum- a form of adoption of laws or resolution of the most important issues of public life through universal suffrage. This is a form of direct democracy. A referendum provides for the resolution of the most important issues for society through a popular vote, the results of which have the highest legal status and are binding on all government bodies.
Referendum is used as a legislative mechanism by most democracies in the world.
One of the main functions of the electoral system is to institutionalize the political participation of citizens, replacing spontaneous, spontaneous, unorganized and often illegal (riot, uprising, etc.) forms of political action with legalized, legal and legitimate ones.
Forms of citizen participation in politics
The life system of humanity is designed in such a way that there is always power that influences and controls a certain mass of people: be it power in a separate country, in a family or, say, in a criminal group. But even despite the fact that the influence of power is seen as an undeniable and self-sufficient factor, the influence of the community on power cannot be denied. Of course, the strength of this reverse influence depends, for the most part, on the regime, the political regime, if we are talking about it on the scale of a country or state.
For example, in a democratic form of government, theoretically, citizens are given a greater opportunity to influence the government. The political participation envisioned for a democratic society is universal, equal, and proactive. Every individual citizen has the right to participate in the life of the country, to protect their interests, to the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with any factors, theoretically independently choose their own “power,” or simply show interest in politics as a sphere of accessible activity. Political participation in a democratic society is free and serves as a means for citizens to express a sense of duty to the country, a means to achieve their goals, and realize the need for self-expression. Such participation is ensured by the state in terms of providing various legal norms and procedures and equal distribution of participation resources, such as money, access to the media, education, a “transparent” vision of the exercise of power, and so on. Also, a democratic society allows, within certain limits, expressions of citizen protest such as rallies, demonstrations, strikes, and petitions. Events of this kind serve both as a tool for political education of citizens and as proof, in fact, that the state is truly democratic and every citizen has the right to self-expression.
Under a totalitarian system, everything and everyone is under the complete control of government agencies. And the government strives to mobilize the population into political participation, creating the appearance of general politicization, which, naturally, practically does not take into account the opinions of citizens. Under this regime, the influence of the community on power is minimally limited, and often simply nominal. Accordingly, the political participation of citizens is determined purely by the needs of the authorities, and is most of all a means of controlling the subject masses. Of course, such a regime, although it is tough and suppresses dissenting opinions in every possible way, has the best chance of such powerful political participation by dissatisfied citizens who do not have the right to speak, such as riots and revolutions. And, more than democratic, it has the opportunity to forcibly change its regime policy to the opposite. A totalitarian regime is usually characteristic of underdeveloped countries, since it is more a relic of the past than an adequate form of relationship between people and government. The exception is, for example, Japan, as an example of the Asian type of government, which is a highly developed culture and, it seems, should be a fully democratic society with all the signs of free political participation of citizens. However, centuries-old traditions have played their role and most of the citizens of this country live quietly under a totalitarian regime that has become so familiar that it seems practically democratic and does not cause significant complaints from the population itself.
In principle, democracy is rightfully a sign of a progressive society and, in its essence, is more stable than totalitarianism in terms of the stability of one-time power. Pent up discontent is always dangerous, and a friend is always easier to control than an enemy. Therefore, in a democratic society, the government tries to maintain the image of a friendly entity, providing citizens with preferably evenly distributed means of subsistence, opportunities for self-realization and self-development, freedom of expression in any field of activity and expressing concern for health and attention to problems. This ensures maximum consideration of the interests of citizens, helps overcome distrust in government and ensures the political participation of a large number of citizens in the life of society. Which, in turn, expands the intellectual potential for decision-making, which helps optimize the work of the structure, increases its efficiency and the stability of the political system. Citizen participation in politics also ensures effective control over officials and prevents abuse of power.
The most effective factor in stimulating citizens for political participation is socio-economic status, primarily determined by the level of education, profession and income. Of course, a high level of material comfort is decisive in terms of a favorable attitude towards the political system. Accordingly, the lower the social position, the more likely a negative attitude towards the system becomes.
At the same time, factors such as gender and age also have an influence. For example, it is well known that citizen activity increases towards the middle of life, and then declines again. Women are less inclined to political participation, which, however, is due to the structure of the traditional order. As is known, in principle, the patriarchal system is more developed in the world and there are certain stereotypes and ideas about the social role of women, which sometimes take little into account the changes associated with the progress of society, despite a significant increase in the educational level. In addition, most often women, especially when living standards are low, simply do not have time to participate in politics. The traditional definition of a man as a leader, and a woman as a wife and mother, forces women to devote most of their lives not to their own interests, but to the interests of their family and children, practically depriving them of developing their personal potential.
This, however, is a bit of a departure. In addition to all of the above, the citizen’s motivation to participate in the country’s activities also plays an important role. The most common motives are:
The motive for the interest and attractiveness of politics as a field of activity;
The motive is cognitive, where the political system acts as a means for understanding the world around and, also, taking into account the complexity of this system for understanding, as an increase in one’s own status in the eyes of oneself and others;
The motive of power, the desire to control other people;
The motive is monetary, since political activity is a highly paid activity;
The motive is traditional, when the policy is adopted among family or friends;
The motive is ideological when the system of life values coincides with the ideological values of the political system;
The motives are false, but they form the desired reaction among the masses, the so-called propaganda.
Different motives prompt different types of political participation. In any political system, with the dominance of one, there are various signs of the opposite, regardless of the political system.
Typically, these options include two main types: autonomous and mobilization participation.
Autonomous participation is the free voluntary activity of an individual, caused by his desire to participate in the political life of the country, pursuing personal and group interests.
Mobilization participation, on the contrary, is coercive in nature. It is stimulated by factors such as fear, coercion, and tradition. As a rule, this type of participation is an initiative of the ruling group and is aimed at supporting its political system, demonstrating its noble goals and positive attitude towards the people. Naturally, this type of participation in no way involves the expression of the personal opinion of an individual or group, but it often creates a false, but necessary for the authorities, idea of the situation in the country.
It is also customary to distinguish between active and passive forms of citizen participation in politics, each of which can be classified as acceptable or unacceptable in terms of morality or law. In terms of active forms of participation, there are several divisions.
Participation in elected bodies, such as presidential elections;
Mass actions, such as rallies, demonstrations, strikes, in which the masses are coordinated, dissatisfied with any action of the government, such as the current strikes of Continental plant workers in Paris, who demand to reconsider the decision to close the plant located in the suburbs of the French capital ;
Single actions, but noticeable enough to have political weight. How, for example, an Iraqi journalist interestingly expressed his political participation by throwing his shoe at George Bush, expressing his extraordinary opinion about America’s policy towards his country;
Participation in political parties and organizations, participation in governing the country, in the adoption of laws;
Participation of citizens in surveys that take into account the opinions of citizens and, in theory, considered in the context of any changes;
Appeals and complaints to higher structures of individuals or groups of citizens;
Lobbying activity is the political promotion of an object, be it a law or a deputy, using either personal or monetary interest, or when it is impossible to refuse the offer. In the context of this activity, both legal and illegal types of achieving goals, such as bribery, can be considered;
Network participation is no longer a very new type of political participation. Numerous blogs, electronic newspapers, and other Internet resources. In particular, from personal experience I observed a type of political participation on one of the sites, in the process of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, while at the government level the lower masses were prescribed negativity towards the “enemy”, on this resource people were discussing this topic with might and main, that with the one on the other side, and at the same time the loudest calls were for friendship between peoples and the independence of interethnic relations from government strife.
If we talk about passive forms of participation, then it is worth noting:
Social apathy as a factor of citizens’ distrust of the government and, accordingly, all non-participation in elections;
Ignoring social events, such as cleanup days, rallies and demonstrations, when invited or strongly recommended to attend them;
Failure to do something due to dissatisfaction with certain government actions. For example, a small payment provided to an individual, which he considers offensive to himself and does not go to receive it, saying, thank you, no need.
In conclusion, I would like to add once again that with the development of society, the importance of citizen participation in the life of the community increases. This is also evidenced by the funds that political movements, parties, and states allocate to sponsor the forms of citizen participation in politics that are necessary for their purposes (elections, demonstrations, protests). The more democratic a society becomes, the more the role of the importance of society in its life increases. And a correct understanding of this meaning allows the state to make society a necessary and obedient lever of its activities, and in return allows society, which is aware of its importance, to receive the greatest benefits and the best results from power.
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Citizen - this is a person belonging to the permanent population of a given state, enjoying its protection and endowed with a set of rights and obligations.
Between the citizen and the state are established civil law relationsand I based on the legal capacity and capacity of a citizen
- Legal capacity- the opportunity to have civil rights and bear certain responsibilities.
- Capacity- the ability to acquire and exercise civil rights. Until the age of 18, a person has incomplete (partial) legal capacity. At the age of 18, legal capacity is fully realized.
Every citizen has rights:
Political,
Civilian,
Social,
Economic
Cultural.
The state guarantees the observance of individual rights and freedoms and creates conditions for their real implementation.
Along with rights, every citizen has his own responsibilities
He must:
Comply with laws and regulations established by the state,
Do not violate the interests of subjects of law and laws,
Do not harm the health of other people, the environment,
Stand in defense of society and the state
In its turn, the state undertakes to be responsible to the citizen in the person of their bodies and officials, to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens on the territory of the state and beyond its borders.
Types of individual participation in politics:
- completely unconscious- eg. human behavior in a crowd;
- semi-conscious- political conformism - understanding the meaning of one’s role with unconditional
submission to the requirements of one’s social environment, even in cases of differences of opinion with it;
- conscious participation- the ability to change your role and your position in accordance with your
consciousness and will.
Motives and factors for participation in politics:
The desire to protect the interests of other citizens;
Ensuring justice for all;
Contribute to solving problems of the state and society;
Selfish goals (personal: prestige, career, etc.);
Unconscious motives.
Reasons for passivity or non-participation in politics:
Lack of reward (no benefit, no cost recovery, etc.);
Weak theoretical preparation (no knowledge of legislation, theory of state and law);
A common opinion: “Alone in the field is not a warrior,” “What can I do?” and so on.;
Factors influencing the level of political activity:
The state of the country’s economy (economic growth leads to a decline in political activity);
Type of political regime in the country;
Existing ideology in the country;
The level of culture of society and the individual himself;
A person's personal views, beliefs and values; Law "On Citizenship of the Russian Federation" (extract)
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1. Social sphere of society. Social politics.
Social sphere - a set of social connections, social interaction and social relationships between people.
Social connection- facts that determine joint activities under certain conditions.
Social interaction- interaction of people in the process of communication.
Social relations- establishing connections between people and social groups.
Social group in terms of numbers it can be large and small, in terms of the nature of relationships - primary and secondary, in terms of the method of organization - formal and informal, in terms of the number of values - unilateral and multilateral.
Social norms- general rules for regulating relations between people in society. Among them are:
- customs(traditions, rituals) - historically established patterns and rules of behavior;
- legal norms- norms enshrined in laws issued by the state, which clearly describe the boundaries of behavior and punishment;
- moral standards- spiritual and moral values;
- political norms- norms regulating the relationship between the individual and the authorities, between social groups;
- religious norms- moral standards supported by the consciousness of believers and religious faith;
- aesthetic standards- ideas about the beautiful and the ugly;
- rules of etiquette- examples of correct behavior and communication;
Social politics- this is the state's regulation of the socio-economic conditions of society and concern for the well-being of all its citizens.
Subjects of social policy:
State
Civil society
Main directions of social policy:
Providing able-bodied citizens with opportunities to work or engage in entrepreneurial activities;
Providing social guarantees for the disabled, low-income and unemployed segments of the population (state pensions and social benefits)
State support for family, motherhood, childhood
Occupational safety and health
Establishing a guaranteed minimum wage
Improving the demographic situation in the country
Development of social structure.
The Constitution of the Russian Federation states: “The Russian Federation is a social state, the policy of which is aimed at creating conditions that ensure a decent life and free development of people.”
In Russia social reform program.
Main tasks proclaimed:
Improving the financial situation and living conditions of people;
Ensuring effective employment of the population;
Realization of citizens' rights in the field of labor, social protection, education, health, culture;
Improving the demographic situation in the country; - development of social infrastructure.
Law "On State Social Assistance" (extract)
Everyone has most likely already realized that the world is sliding into a zone of “global turbulence.” This is a time when the future of countries and humanity as a whole is not determined, and therefore depends on the position of each individual person. How can people express their opinions? Here we should remember that this is done through the participation of the citizen. Only not everyone in our country and in other states has the necessary minimum of information on this issue. We are not particularly interested in such abstract topics when everything is stable. And as the crisis looms on the horizon, we are at a loss, trying to figure out exactly how we can influence it. Should we only rely on the rulers? Or can we ourselves join in the common work to overcome it? Let's understand our rights and responsibilities.
What will we be talking about?
It is proposed to consider the expression “citizen participation in political life”, determining its semantic meaning. It contains two interrelated concepts. They cannot exist separately and cover the described process comprehensively. Let us specifically highlight two terms: “citizen” and “politics”. The first describes a person who has certain rights. The second is the process of their implementation in the field of government. It turns out that we are exploring a system that allows each person to influence events in their country according to their own beliefs. Would you say this is impossible? However, you should first study the laws, then only draw conclusions.
Your vote is decisive
We will try to understand where the legislative levers are laid down that allow each person to influence the overall situation. Let's start with the fact that citizen participation in political life is a rather “bureaucratic” process. It is laid out on the shelves in the constitution of any In addition, there are a number of laws and other acts detailing this process. Yes, you yourself, most likely, have already taken part in it, but you have not qualified it as citizen participation in political life. If you have already reached the age of majority, you went to vote (or had such an opportunity). They provided you with information about the various parties wishing to gain power, explained it, invited you to ask questions, and so on. Maybe you didn’t pay any attention to these events, but a citizen participates in the political life of his state in precisely this form (but not only). Through the election system, his right to take part in governing the country is realized.
Let's move on to practice
Citizen participation in politics is not limited to plebiscites. After all, voting is the result of a rather long process. It is preceded by political struggle. Namely, those parties that want to direct the development of the country and society try to attract as many citizens as possible to their side. To do this, they clarify their views and goals. They try to involve as many citizens as possible in this work so that they can exercise their right to freedom of opinion. At this time, any person can choose the force that most fully reflects his own position. Of course, some people believe that it is better to defend their beliefs alone. However, in a democratic society, a more rational mechanism has been invented, based on the long-standing principle: “Together we are strong!” That's why political parties are formed. They are the spokesman for the aspirations and hopes of certain groups and segments of the population.
About political parties
Now we come to the other side of citizen participation in government. Anyone can become a member of a political force that corresponds to their beliefs. And when he turns twenty-one, to be elected to this or that And this is a completely different level of participation in political life. Working in a self-government body allows you to directly influence decision-making. After all, laws are adopted there. It is worth saying here that a deputy of any level does not vote “according to his own understanding.” He is the spokesman for his constituents. This means that when voting, he is obliged to proceed from the interests of the latter. This is the second level, so to speak, of citizens to participate in the first - participation in the choice of political force, the second - it acts in his interests.
Is it that simple?
Not really. The fact is that the process of governing a country is quite complex. You can, of course, “cut with a saber” and declare the most popular ideas among the people. But when it comes to implementing them in practice, deputies and parties invariably run into obstacles and barriers. On the one hand, they have an opposition, a political force that expresses the interests of other groups of the population, sometimes of a confrontational nature. It is necessary to negotiate with them and find consensus. But there is also legislation, that is, accepted “rules of the game.” You can't jump over them. For example, many are dissatisfied with high utility tariffs. To reduce them, it is necessary to change many laws, the first of which will be the budget for the current year. And besides this, there are also other acts of a federal and local nature. The work is difficult and long.
Should I become a deputy?
Of course, a person with an active civic position wants to more closely influence the life of society. Many people strive to be elected to one body or another. Is only everyone capable of such responsibility? The person on whom the well-being of the country and the entire population depends must have a large stock of knowledge. He also needs experience, the ability to analyze facts, and perceive information deeply and comprehensively. Of course, a large number of specialists work on any legislative act. Ultimately, the person who voted is responsible for its implementation. Therefore, it is necessary that these people be comprehensively educated, wise, and far-sighted. So it turns out that a citizen participates in politics when he carefully looks at who he is going to vote for.
Participation in peaceful assemblies
The officialdom has been dealt with. But political life does not end there. After all, besides elections, there are other forms of people expressing their opinions. Thus, the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. This means that people can express their opinions through rallies, demonstrations or other actions held in public places. The implementation of this right is regulated by its own laws, which describe the methodology for organizing such events. That is, they cannot be spontaneous. Would you like to attend a rally? You are welcome to submit a statement to the local government, which indicates the goals, organizers and approximate number of participants. This is not discrimination at all. Local authorities are responsible for the lives of citizens. She is obliged to ensure the preservation of order during the action. Although there are exceptions. One person can hold a picket without approval.
About responsibility
This is the most important question on the one hand and the least popular question on the other.
Our people love to look for someone to blame. However, a citizen in politics has not only rights, but also responsibilities. He is required to use his rights thoughtfully and carefully. Otherwise, we vote for whoever they “prompt”, and then we clutch our heads at what is happening in the country. And more often than not we skip elections or rallies altogether. Everyone has their own things to do that are more important from their point of view. We remember that we are also citizens, and not just people, when we need something from the authorities. And also when prices rise or another “trouble” develops before our eyes. But you had the right to influence the formation of this very government! Have you used it? Now ask yourself why the “wrong” people are ruling the country.
