Personality as a subject and object of political life. Coursework: Personality as a subject of politics. Political socialization of the individual

Introduction

Personality is the primary subject of politics. As a political subject, it is characterized by the possibility and degree of influence on political processes in society and mainly on political power. No matter how significant the role played by social groups, mass social movements, political parties, in the end, its main subject is the individual, since these groups themselves , movements, parties and other organizations consist of real personalities and only through the interaction of their interests and will are determined by the content and direction of the political process, the entire political life society.

The concept of "human dimension of politics" has firmly entered the political lexicon of the late 20th century. The inclusion of citizens in the socio-political process as its conscious participants is universally proclaimed as the ideal of most political doctrines, movements, and organizations. Of course, concrete political practice is quite far from this ideal. Therefore, the development of issues related to the political role of the individual is important for modern political practice. The personal dimension of politics has exclusively importance when analyzing current political processes, conflicts and situations. The problem of the personality factor in politics is the problem of the relationship between the individual and society, the individual and the state, the processes of political socialization of the individual and his participation in political life.

Chapter 1. PERSONALITY AS SUBJECT AND OBJECT OF POLICY

The problem of personality in political science has at least three main aspects:

1. Actually a person with his inherent individual traits and qualities: intellectual, emotional, strong-willed;

2. Personality as a representative of a group: status, class, socio-ethnic, elite, masses, etc., as well as a performer of a certain political role: a voter, a member of an organization, a parliamentarian;

3. Personality as a conscious, active participant in the social and political life of a person who usually interacts with the authorities and acts as the subject and object of policy influence.

The place of a person in political life was generally considered in many political teachings. Already in antiquity, teachings appeared that differently assessed the attitude of the individual to politics and the state. The most influential of these are the teachings of Confucius, Plato and Aristotle.

Confucius developed a paternalistic concept of the state, according to which the state was presented as one large patriarchal family, in which all power belongs to the ruler-father. In the paternalistic concept of power, the ordinary person is given the role of a simple executor of the royal will, that is, a passive, unconscious participant in politics.

In the political concept of Plato, a totalitarian interpretation of personality has been developed. With such an understanding of the personality, the question of its autonomy and political role is obviously excluded and the person acts only as an object of power.

In the teachings of Aristotle, the political life of society was considered in relation to human nature. Aristotle considers the individual to be a political being by nature due to his natural predestination to live in a society, a collective. In the state, as the highest form of communication between people, the nature of a person is realized - the individual becomes an organic part of a living and integral political organism. Although Aristotle advocates the priority of the state in relations with the citizen, unlike Plato, he is an opponent of the stateization of society. In general, Aristotle, like his predecessors, does not separate the individual and society from the state.

In the political concept of Machiavelli, a person was considered as a negative principle, and the relationship between people was characterized by the formula “man is a wolf to man”. People unite in a crowd of dark and uneducated people. According to Machiavelli, the ruler must consider all people evil. However, he was also a theorist. organizational behavior of people. The theory of elites, the technology of effective leadership, is associated with his name.

The role of the individual in politics was generally considered in many political doctrines. However, the predominant consideration was the role of prominent politicians in relation to the activities populace, classes or even crowds. In political doctrines, it was mainly about the political role of prominent personalities - statesmen, leaders of political movements, ideologists, leaders, etc. those who had a noticeable influence on politics and the masses. Therefore, politics is often personified, given the name of the one who defined or implemented it. At the same time, the question of the role of the "ordinary" or "mass" personality in politics turned out to be the least developed. And only in the second half of the XX century. under the influence of the crash totalitarian regimes and further democratization of public life, this direction in political doctrines began to be given quite serious attention.

Politics in any manifestation is somehow reflected in the destinies ordinary people. In this sense, we can say that the ultimate object of politics is always an ordinary citizen. This circumstance determines the active position of an ordinary citizen in political life, i.e. to act as a subject of politics.

The active inclusion of the individual in the political process requires certain prerequisites. They can be divided into three groups: material, socio-cultural and political and legal. Experience shows that in order for a person to participate in normal political activity, the primary satisfaction of his vital needs is necessary. It has been noted that the richer the society, the more open it is to democratic forms of functioning. The level of well-being has a noticeable impact on the political beliefs and orientations of a person.

A necessary condition for ensuring effective opportunities for the individual to influence the state and its bodies is the political culture of the individual, in particular such a cultural factor as education. Lenin's statement that an illiterate person is outside of politics is well known. This means that an illiterate person, outside of a personally conscious policy, is the object of political actions and not their subject. And vice versa, the higher the level of education of a person, the more politically oriented he is and, most importantly, predisposed to democratic orientations, attitudes and actions.

An essential prerequisite for active political participation is also political and legal factors. These include a democratic political regime, the dominance of a democratic political culture, legal security of democratic procedures for the formation of all structures of power, the participation of members of society at all stages of political decision.

Thus, the political activity of an individual is based on a set of certain prerequisites that either contribute to the development of political activity, the disclosure of the potential qualities of a person as a socio-political figure, the formation of an individual as a valid subject of the political life of society, or significantly complicate all these processes and preserve political apathy and passivity. .

Topic 2. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

The problem of personality as a subject of political activity cannot be reduced only to the conditions in which its political functions are carried out. Much depends on the political activity of a person, on the degree to which he realizes his role as a subject of politics. In this regard, two aspects are usually distinguished - the participation of ordinary citizens in public and political life and political activity people for whom politics becomes almost a professional occupation.

To refer to the actions of ordinary citizens in the field of politics, the concept of “political participation” is used. It usually means the participation in politics of autonomous, private citizens who are neither political leaders nor functionaries of power structures or political parties. Political participation involves overcoming the alienation of the individual from power and politics, its active involvement in the political process.

The political activity of citizens is different. AT modern democracies the political activity of citizens appears mainly by participation in voting in elections, referendums, in various forms pressure on power structures when making and implementing certain important decisions.

The most important mechanism for involving citizens in the political process is the activity of political parties, socio-political organizations and movements. It is they who are most often the initiators and organizers of such actions of citizens as participation in election campaigns, demonstrations, rallies, collection of signatures for petitions, etc. The bulk of the population shows a moderate interest in politics and is limited to voting in elections and occasional participation in the events of local bodies. A sharp increase in political activity occurs during periods of political instability. However, such activity can be destructive.

Citizen participation in politics is one of the central indicators quality features political systems, the degree of their democracy. In a democratic society, this participation is massive, free and effective in resolving issues that affect the essential interests of citizens. In an authoritarian society, part of the population is completely or partially excluded from participation in politics. The totalitarian, on the contrary, strives for the mobilization involvement in the ritual actions of supporting the regime of the maximum share of the population.

From the point of view of political subjectivity, the following main types of personality are distinguished:

a) a person with high political activity participating in political life. activists are constantly interested political issues and informed about them. This may be a citizen - a member of a political or public organization, purposefully and voluntarily included in political activities; public, socio-political figure; a professional politician for whom political activity is the main, sole or main occupation; political leader, leader of the highest instance - formal or informal;

In solving the problem of "personality - politics", it is important to determine the place and role of a person in public life, in political activity, in government. Most political doctrines proceed from the interests of man, his freedom, as a priority value. The progressive movement of society is a movement from lack of freedom to freedom, in the course of which creative possibilities personality, universal human values and democratic ideals are embodied. The entire development of society, from the economy to the spiritual sphere, is aimed at meeting the needs of man, at his comprehensive development. Does the economy depend on people? Of course. From what place a person occupies in production, from how he behaves in production, from his labor activity, conscientiousness, interest in work, etc. Social sphere and social relations directly depend on a person and his ability to realize all economic successes to ensure life, life, working conditions. In development political system A lot depends on the political maturity, education, and initiative of a person. Increasing attention to the individual, his social qualities, public and political consciousness and behavior is closely related to the reorganization of the system of education, upbringing, culture, and morality.

The concept of "personality", expressing the social essence of a person, exists inextricably linked with the concept of "society". A person is a person who embodies concrete historical social relations, influencing them to the best of his strength and abilities and depending on the position he occupies in society.

Psychologically, the political activity of an individual is conditioned by the human need to belong to a society, that is, a community, to identify oneself with one's nation, social stratum, group, political party, association. Often a person joins politics in order to become precisely a part of a social community. This relieves loneliness, makes you feel the strength and ability to influence the course of political processes. Scientific approach to determine the place and role of the individual in society makes it possible to show under what conditions the individual becomes a true subject social relations, the subject of power, to determine the social status of the individual.

What is the social status of a person? This is the place of the individual public system in relation to other individuals and groups, the totality of its social functions, as well as its evaluation and self-esteem, i.e. a person's understanding of his social significance. The social status of a person is characterized by economic, professional and other characteristics.

Status is closely related to the political role of the individual. The political role is the dynamic side of the status, its function, certain behavior. Each person not only occupies a place in the social, political structure society, but also performs the functions corresponding to this place. The political roles of a person can be the role of a voter, deputy, member of a political party, socio-political organization, participant in a rally, demonstration, etc.

Thus, a measure of policy, the driving principle of the political activity of a nation, a class, a political party, a political movement, etc. is precisely the personality, its interests, value orientations and goals.

The classification of policy subjects is quite diverse. Their division into two main types is most widespread: social and institutional.

Social covers individuals and various social strata, including professional, ethnic, demographic and other groups.

Institutional includes the state, political parties, trade unions, political movements, interest groups, etc.

Sometimes a third type of policy subjects is distinguished - functional , covering social institutions designed to solve predominantly non-political problems, although in reality they have a noticeable, and sometimes very significant impact on politics: the church, educational establishments, corporations, sports associations, voluntary societies, etc.

Depending on the awareness and degree of participation in political activities, an American political scientist Gabriel Almond identifies three groups of policy subjects . Firstly , subjects who are clearly aware of their goals and ways of their implementation and use institutional mechanisms for this (political parties, political movements, etc.). Secondly, the subjects driven by the concern for the realization of their immediate, local, everyday interests and are not aware of the political consequences of their participation, their political role. Thirdly , subjects - subjects who understand their political role and purpose, but do not see the opportunity to go beyond them, independently influence political life.

Be the subject of politics, i.e. its conscious conductor is possible only in a democratic society where political rights and freedoms prevail, there is completeness and reliability of information, publicity, the opportunity to promote and defend one's convictions, to participate in various forms of political life at one's discretion.

Totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, in which political life is strictly regulated by the state or the party, are characterized by the lack of opportunities for independent, creative participation of the individual in politics. Here the personality is not the subject, but only the object of the policy, i.e. executor of someone else's will. At the same time, its participation in political life (demonstrations, processions, various kinds of political actions) is not excluded, which, however, is carried out formally on a voluntary basis, but in essence on a compulsory basis. Soviet times are rich in examples of this kind.

An individual can also act as an object of politics in a democratic regime, but only insofar as he is obliged to comply with the constitution, laws, government orders, community norms and other regulations that ensure a normal, civilized life of society.

AT last years two contradictory trends in the relationship between the individual and politics have been identified : increased interest in politics, tk. it significantly affects the life of every person, and the fall of trust in her official representatives, constantly resorting to lies and deception of the people, not fulfilling their promises and election programs.

In this regard, is it possible to speak of a person as a subject of politics? The term "subject of politics" refers to the one who creates the policy, takes an active and conscious part in it. Political science considers the main subject of politics social group, interests and the mode of functioning of which is determined possible scope political activity of the individual. In this regard, the individual turns out to be a secondary, derivative and service subject of politics, not so much a subject of the totality. public relations as a direct subject of political practice.

Not a professional politician, but an "average" person becomes a subject of politics if he knows what are the social needs and interests of various social groups what causes the contradictions between them, what are the ways to resolve these contradictions, what is the relationship between his own needs and interests and the state of social opportunities to satisfy them. But even this is not enough. The individual, as a subject of politics, must navigate the rules and mechanisms of the political "game" in society, know what he wants and can take a place in this game. Only under these conditions does a person become a full-fledged subject of politics.

The objective factors of a person's political activity affect him both positively (forming his political activity) and negatively (forcibly including him in political life). An individual can live outside politics for a certain time, but such isolation is artificial: when the results of real politics threaten the interests of not only the belonging group, but also the very personal interests, the individual is necessarily included in political activity.

The specific participation of the individual in political activity is determined by two factors:

1) motivation, in which the defining dominants are the abilities and ambitions (claims) of the individual;

2) the presence of social conditions in which these abilities and ambitions can be realized.

Only such a person, whose abilities and characteristics correspond to current political demands, can influence political life in certain specific conditions.

In general, the political influence of an “ordinary” citizen depends on the following factors:

a) the social status of the individual (class affiliation, profession, place in the professional and social hierarchy, degree of maturity);

b) the connection of his own interests with certain social contradictions and conflicts;

c) the volume and social significance of the social roles performed, the degree and effectiveness of the implementation of the requirements for these roles;

d) own efforts and ability to conduct political activities;

e) the strength of social barriers and restrictions on the activity of the individual (group privileges, various qualifications: property, educational, national, religious; burden of traditions, etc.);

f) the political consciousness and culture of the individual, his political orientation, the professed system of values.

Great value in the development of the political subjectivity of the individual has an existing in society legal system, which defines the boundaries and allowable norms political activity. They are reflected in the officially proclaimed (first of all, in the Constitution) civil rights and obligations, and in the system of their guarantees (both formal and material).

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Plan

Personality and politics

Topic 13

1. Personality as a subject and object of policy.

2. Political socialization of the individual: essence, stages, factors.

3. Political participation and its forms.

In political science under personality not a separate individual and not individuality as such, but a set of quite definite, that is, repetitive, stable qualities inherent in many individuals, is understood. The concept of personality focuses on the “social component” in a person, which he develops, being a representative of one or another community of people. Therefore, a personality is, first of all, a set of those social roles that it is “instructed” to perform on the basis of a well-defined social status occupied by a person. At the same time, a person has the ability to form his own attitude to reality, which is called personality orientation.

What determines personality as a subject of politics?

First, the presence of an individual a certain "autonomy" in a society that contributes to the formation of sustainable needs and interests;

Secondly, goal-setting ability that is, to setting and achieving the goals and objectives of their activities;

third, volitional capacity(“political will”) to achieve the set goals;

fourth, ability to self-directed behavior, that is, to behavior oriented not only to external objects, but also to oneself as a subject.

The process of becoming a personality as a subject and even more so the qualitative states of the achieved "subjectivity" have in real practice infinite set variations.

In relation to political life and politics In general, the subjectivity of a person can manifest itself as one or another combination of awareness about politics, interest to it and a specific political participation. According to these criteria, the following types of personalities are distinguished in political science (E. Vyatr):

· "activists"– actively seeking informed people who are positively inclined to participate in political life;

· "competent observers"- similar in characteristics to the first, but not striving for active participation (for example, scientists, writers, etc.);

· "competent critics"- informed and interested, but their attitude to politics and power is generally negative (critical);

· "passive citizens"- configured, as a rule, negatively or neutrally in relation to the authorities, not interested in politics, although they may be informed about it;

· "apolitical and aloof"- who know little about politics, are not interested in it and are sharply opposed to any personal participation in political life.

Another typology is based on the distinction between two types of an individual's attitude to power: autonomous, when power is valued for some of its own merit, and instrumental, when power is valued as a means to achieve certain goals; as well as two types of motives when a person "enters" power: egocentric directed at oneself or the immediate environment, and sociocentric, which concentrate on the good of any wider group of people (class, nation, settlement community) or society as a whole.

History shows that if, with sociocentric motives that encourage people to actively participate in politics, the approach to power is always instrumental (since it is seen as a means to do something for society), then with egocentric motives, it manifests itself both autonomously and and instrumental attitude towards it. It is clear that a combination of instrumentalist and egocentric approaches has become extremely widespread in historical practice, when people look for a means of obtaining personal benefits in power. Such people value power not in itself, but on the basis of what it can give them, although they may exercise it in such a way that it will benefit some community.

How and for what reasons is a person included in the system of political relations? Under the influence of what mechanisms are formed its qualities as a subject and object of policy?

13.2. Political socialization of personality: essence, stages, factors

Political socialization – this is the assimilation of political and cultural values, political orientations, the development of forms of political behavior that are acceptable (typical) for a given society.

As a result of political socialization, a person joins the system of functioning political relations, processes and phenomena, which, in turn, contributes to ensuring the stability of the political system. The content of political socialization is familiarization with existing political norms and traditions, the formation of political participation skills, informing about the goals and methods of the policy being pursued.

Political socialization is always concrete-historical in nature:

· the qualitative boundaries of the process of socialization are set by the features of the existing political system;

· to each historical type socialization corresponds to its "ideal" political person (personality);

Socialization has an age-related character and has its own characteristics at each stage of personality development.

There are two types of political socialization: direct (primary) and indirect (secondary).

Direct socialization is the direct acquisition of political knowledge, attitudes, and skills.

Indirect socialization is a kind of "projection" of character traits, early childhood experience, the immediate environment of the individual on the formed political qualities. Thus, the positive or negative attitudes of the child towards the father can be further transformed into attitudes towards political objects (president, parliament, court, etc.).

Political socialization of the individual consists of several qualitative stages.

Politicization stage: already early childhood a concept is being formed that, in addition to adults in the school and family, there is also an external authority.

Personalization stage: awareness political power through political figures symbolizing it, for example, through the president, prime minister, policeman.

Idealization stage: attributing exceptionally positive qualities to a politician.

Stage of institutionalization: the transition from a personified perception of politics to a more impersonal, abstract one (at the level of perception of political institutions).

The study of political thinking in children made it possible to highlight the uneven political development of the individual. For example, from 11 to 13 years old there is a rapid development of political ideas, while in the period from 16 to 18 years old this process noticeably slows down. At the same time, the older the teenager, the greater the degree of abstraction his thinking is capable of (using such concepts as human rights, freedoms, power). In the adolescent period, the ideological foundations of the personality are laid, which, as practice shows, turn out to be the most stable.

In Western political science there are four basic models of political socialization (R. Merelman).

system model. Characterized by the formation positive attitude to power, to the existing legal order. The most important factors of socialization: family and school, as well as the environment of the individual, her peers. Characteristic of the Anglo-American political culture.

hegemonic model. It is characterized by the formation of a hostile attitude among young people to any socio-political system, except for “their own”. Leading factors: mass media

pluralistic model. The formation of citizens' ideas about their political interests, the desire to participate in the implementation of their civic position. Leading factors: family, school, media, parties and interest groups.

conflict model. It comes down to the formation of loyalty to a certain political group and the readiness to support it in the struggle against other groups. Leading factors: mainly media, parties, interest groups.

In each political system, socialization has its own characteristics associated with historical conditions, the nature of the political regime, the predominant type of spiritual values, and political culture as a whole.

2. Personality as a subject and object of policy

In solving the problem of "personality - politics", it is important to determine the place and role of a person in public life, in political activity, in government. Most political doctrines proceed from the interests of man, his freedom, as a priority value. The progressive movement of society is a movement from lack of freedom to freedom, during which the creative possibilities of the individual are realized, universal human values and democratic ideals are embodied. The entire development of society, from the economy to the spiritual sphere, is aimed at meeting the needs of man, at his comprehensive development. Does the economy depend on people? Of course. From what place a person occupies in production, from how he behaves in production, from his labor activity, conscientiousness, interest in work, etc. The social sphere and social relations directly depend on a person and his ability to realize all economic successes to ensure life, life, and working conditions. In the development of the political system, a lot depends on the political maturity, education, and initiative of a person. Increasing attention to the individual, his social qualities, public and political consciousness and behavior is closely related to the reorganization of the system of education, upbringing, culture, and morality.

Psychologically, the political activity of an individual is conditioned by the human need to belong to a society, that is, a community, to identify oneself with one's nation, social stratum, group, political party, association. Often a person joins politics in order to become precisely a part of a social community. This relieves loneliness, makes you feel the strength and ability to influence the course of political processes. The scientific approach to determining the place and role of the individual in society makes it possible to show under what conditions the individual becomes a true subject of social relations, the subject of power, to determine the social status of the individual.

What is the social status of a person? This is the place of the individual in the social system in relation to other individuals and groups, the totality of its social functions, as well as its evaluation and self-esteem, i.e. a person's understanding of his social significance. The social status of a person is characterized by economic, professional and other characteristics.

Status is closely related to the political role of the individual. The political role is the dynamic side of the status, its function, certain behavior. Each person not only occupies a place in the social, political structure of society, but also performs the functions corresponding to this place. The political roles of a person can be the role of a voter, deputy, member of a political party, socio-political organization, participant in a rally, demonstration, etc.

The classification of policy subjects is quite diverse. Their division into two main types is most widespread: social and institutional.

Social covers individuals and various social strata, including professional, ethnic, demographic and other groups.

Institutional includes the state, political parties, trade unions, political movements, interest groups, etc.

Sometimes a third type of political subjects is distinguished - a functional one, covering social institutions designed to solve predominantly non-political tasks, although in reality they have a noticeable, and sometimes very significant impact on politics: the church, educational institutions, corporations, sports associations, voluntary societies, etc. .P.

Depending on the awareness and degree of participation in political activity, the American political scientist Gabriel Almond distinguishes three groups of political subjects. First, the subjects who are clearly aware of their goals and ways of their implementation and use institutional mechanisms for this (political parties, political movements, etc.). Secondly, the subjects driven by the concern for the realization of their immediate, local, everyday interests and are not aware of the political consequences of their participation, their political role. Thirdly, subjects are subjects who understand their political role and purpose, but do not see the possibility of going beyond them, independently influencing political life.

In recent years, two contradictory trends in the relationship between the individual and politics have emerged: an increase in interest in politics, because it significantly affects the life of every person, and the loss of confidence in its official representatives, who constantly resort to lies and deception of the people, do not fulfill their promises and election programs.

In this regard, is it possible to speak of a person as a subject of politics? The term "subject of politics" refers to the one who creates the policy, takes an active and conscious part in it. Political science considers a social group to be the main subject of politics, the interests and mode of functioning of which determine the possible sphere of political activity of an individual. In this regard, the individual turns out to be a secondary, derivative and service subject of politics, not so much the subject of a set of social relations as a direct subject of political practice.

Not a professional politician, but an “average” person becomes a subject of politics if he knows what the social needs and interests of various social groups are, what causes the contradictions between them, what are the ways to resolve these contradictions, what is the relationship between his own needs and interests and the state of social opportunities their satisfaction. But even this is not enough. The individual, as a subject of politics, must navigate the rules and mechanisms of the political "game" in society, know what he wants and can take a place in this game. Only under these conditions does a person become a full-fledged subject of politics.