The success of any political party in society depends on many factors. Among them, it is necessary to note such as the form of government (presidential or parliamentary republic) and the type of national-territorial structure of the state (unitary or federal), within which it functions, the specifics of electoral legislation, the regime of government, etc. All this has an impact on the program, pre-election activity, daily activities of parties after summing up the results of the elections.
The nature of a political party is most clearly manifested through its functions:
1) Struggle for power (peaceful redistribution of power between various social forces makes it possible to avoid social upheavals when the balance of political forces changes). Winning the election allows you to form a government and start realizing the interests represented through public policy.
2) Social representation. Each party strives to unite, as far as possible, wide sections of society and represent various social groups, since success in elections can only be ensured by the party that will express not narrow group, but national interests.
3) Social integration. Achieving agreement with the existing system, social conformism, reconciliation of the interests of conflicting social groups.
4) Political socialization of citizens. The inclusion of a person in the world of politics through the formation of value orientations, social and political attitudes, the skills of socio-political activity, the formation of public opinion in order to provide ideological support for the party and discredit its political opponents.
5) Political recruiting, the formation of the ruling elite. Training and promotion of personnel and coordination of their work in public authorities, public organizations and movements.
6) Development and implementation of a political course (it is necessary to formulate disagreements with other political forces on the main issues of social development).
In order to effectively implement these functions, political parties need material resources. Sources of funding for political parties can be grouped into the following three groups:
Own party funds. They are formed at the expense of entrance and membership fees, deductions from the salaries of leading members of the party, income from property and entrepreneurial activities. There are some restrictions here. For example, in Slovakia political parties are prohibited from owning property abroad, in Egypt and Ethiopia they are prohibited from engaging in entrepreneurial activity. In addition, this side of the activities of political parties can lead to the fact that, while engaging in entrepreneurial activities, parties merge with financial and industrial capital.
Private financing. This includes voluntary donations from individuals and legal entities. Most democratic states legally limit or completely prohibit financial support for political parties from charitable and religious organizations, state enterprises, anonymous sponsors, from abroad. So, in the USA, Israel is forbidden to accept assistance from private legal entities (societies, organizations, firms, etc.). Sometimes the law determines both the amount of donations and the specific activity to be financed.
State funding. The state provides direct financial support to those parties that have passed the electoral threshold. There is a practice of distributing finances depending on the number of votes received by the party in elections (Germany, Sweden). In Denmark, Finland, Italy, the amount of financial assistance is determined by the number of received deputy mandates. In addition, there is also an indirect governmental support political parties. Parties are provided with free airtime, places for publications and statements in the media, etc.
The leadership of a political party must publish reports on the sources of financial income, expenditure of funds, property of the party. Almost all countries have limits on campaign spending.
The place and role of the party in political system largely determined by its functions. Functions reflect the main tasks and activities of a political party, its purpose in society. The most common functions of political parties include:
Representation of social interests;
Development of program guidelines, the political line of the party;
Formation of public opinion, political education and political socialization of citizens;
Participation in the struggle for power and in its implementation, in the formation of the political system of society;
Training and promotion of personnel.
Within the framework of these functions, it is possible to single out more particular, specific tasks. The content, forms and methods of carrying out the same functions may differ for different types of parties. There are also specific functions performed by certain parties due to the peculiarities of their development and position.
occupies an important place in the activities of the Party. representation of interests classes, social groups and strata. The content of this function is the identification, formulation and justification of the interests of social forces, their integration and activation.
As mentioned above, genetically the formation of parties is due to the differentiation of society into classes and other social formations with different interests. 19th – early 20th centuries - this is a time of sharp delimitation of social class positions. This does not mean that the party system of society is an exact copy of the social class structure of society. It has always turned out that there are different versions of class politics: social-democratic and communist for the working class, liberal and conservative for the bourgeoisie. The formation of national and religious parties that transcend class boundaries speaks of multidimensionality social structure society, about the presence of various strata claiming to actively participate in political life as its subjects.
The last decades have brought significant changes in the content of the representation function. Western political scientists believe that to replace class parties from the middle of the 20th century. the so-called "people's parties" or "parties for all" began to come. Such a party seeks to avoid identifying itself with the interests of any one class or stratum, but appears as a spokesman for a common interest. In order to achieve success, above all in the elections, the party today must take into account the interests of a whole bloc of forces. Parties strive to win a majority of votes and, in accordance with this, build their strategy and tactics, striving to harmonize various interests. The appearance of the party is now shaped not so much by class orientation as by a certain type of policy.
This concept reflects objective changes in the life of society, however, the term "party for all", as it seems to us, cannot be taken literally: not a single party, since it represents one of options policies may not satisfy everyone. Despite the expansion of the social base of the parties, differences remain between them both in terms of the forces to which they primarily orient themselves, and in terms of their general ideological and political orientation.
The interests of various social groups are aggregated and expressed in the process of developing a political program and implementing the party's political course. Related to this is the following function of the party − development of program settings , socio-economic and political strategy. The party, as a rule, has a long-term political program based on certain ideological principles. Even if a party does not rely on any strict ideological system, a certain ideological commitment is manifested in its specific activities and the values it defends.
Allocate pragmatic and ideological styles of the party. Pragmatic parties are focused on the practical expediency of actions, on the search for any opportunities to achieve specific goals. Parties of the pragmatic type avoid adopting dogmatized programs that claim to be rigorous science and ultimate truth. The pre-election platform often acts as the program of such a party. Pragmatic parties do not make strict ideological demands on their members. Ideological restrictions do not play a significant role for them, and they are sometimes sacrificed when concluding various kinds of agreements, forming coalitions, etc.
Ideological(or ideological, doctrinal) parties based on a strictly defined ideological doctrine. They are characterized by upholding the relevant ideals and principles, the desire to model a society with certain ideological attitudes and put them into practice.
Recognition by members of the Party of its program guidelines - necessary condition the strength of intra-party ties. However, the existence of various political factions in the Party and the struggle between them is not ruled out. Ideological and program differences have their limits, and violation of them can lead to an organizational split and the emergence of new parties. At the same time, some parties (communist, for example) forbid factional struggle as incompatible with the statutory goals and objectives. Experience shows that the prohibition of factional struggle is ineffective and leads to the ideological and political ossification of the party.
Parties strive not only to develop and update various political doctrines, but also to widely disseminate them in society. This is served by the publication of party materials, speeches by party leaders on radio and television, in the press, at rallies and meetings. The party is interested in the recognition and support of its political line by public opinion.
Ideological function A political party also involves the political education of its members and supporters, the education of members of society in the spirit of certain values and traditions, the familiarization of citizens with political life and, ultimately, contributes to their political socialization.
The function of exercising power political party includes:
Participation in the preparation and conduct of elections to state authorities and administration;
Parliamentary activities of the party, its work in the party factions of parliament and local authorities;
Participation in the process of preparation and adoption of political decisions by state bodies;
Political recruiting, etc.
In a modern democratic society, political parties in the struggle for power reject violent methods and are guided by the electoral process. Elections are the main arena of rivalry between parties. In a competitive struggle, the party whose political course appeals to the majority of voters achieves success. Therefore, one of the main tasks of the party is to ensure support from voters, create and expand its electorate.
As a result of changes in the social structure of society, the educational level of the population, and the impact of the media, parties are losing a stable influence on voters. There is an "erosion of party support," as the American sociologists W. Crott and G. Jacobson define it. Many voters change their party allegiance from election to election, or support candidates of different parties in elections of different levels, depending on how the latter promise to solve certain problems.
The parties that have won parliamentary mandates form parliamentary factions or party groups. Fractions submit various proposals to the parliament, prepare bills, make requests to the government, participate in the agenda, and have other powers. Taking into account the number of parliamentary factions from different parties, the governing and working bodies of the parliament (commissions, committees, bureaus, etc.) are formed.
In Western countries, the principle of autonomy of party factions in parliaments and municipalities operates, according to which factions are not directly subordinate to party bodies, including party congresses and conferences. They carry out Party programs and guidelines in accordance with specific conditions. But since the effective work of a parliamentary faction presupposes the existence of a certain internal discipline, party factions often adopt rather strict rules of conduct and even sanctions for their violation. For example, at the plenary meeting of a faction, a decision may be made obliging the members of the faction to vote accordingly (decision on "factional coercion" and "voting discipline"). Along with official coercion and other measures, the most effective are the prospects of not getting into the number of party candidates in the next election.
The exercise of power by the ruling party is expressed not only in the initiating and advisory role in parliament, but also in the formation and subordination of executive bodies. Political parties participate in the formation of the ruling elite, the selection and placement of managerial personnel. They are the institutions within which political leaders and statesmen are educated.
The ruling party, through its parliamentary faction, through its representatives in the state apparatus, participates in the adoption of political decisions that correspond to the interests of the public groups it represents. Party bodies and forums determine the goals and objectives of the party in such a way that their specific implementation in the form of bills and other state acts remains the prerogative of the parliamentarians themselves, as well as administrative bodies, the economic apparatus, etc. The general practice in a democracy is such that parties do not directly interfere v state system. The ruling parties seek to avoid direct linkage of their policies with the actions of the government and local executive bodies, sometimes distancing themselves from them in order to absolve themselves of responsibility for certain unpopular measures. Thus, the party and its organs are, as it were, "alienated" from the state and influence it only indirectly. As a result, party bodies and organizations retain a purely public character and perform their functions on a non-state basis.
The political party acts as an intermediary between the state and civil society. Parties ensure the connection of the masses with state structures, the institutionalization of the political participation of citizens and the replacement of spontaneous forms of social and political activity of the population with organized forms subject to control. Through political parties, citizens put forward their group demands to the state and at the same time receive requests from it for support in resolving certain political issues. In this way, parties develop both direct and feedback people and state.
This mediating role of parties is most fully manifested in a democratic society. In countries with totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, the role of the ruling parties goes far beyond such mediation. Due to the absence of real competitors in the struggle for power, a political monopoly of the ruling party is emerging, which usurps power and political functions. The ruling party becomes above the state, establishes control over it, and through it over civil society. The exit of the party beyond its functional purpose, the attempt to replace the state bodies destroys the socio-political nature of the party. Such an organization ceases to be a political party in the proper sense of the word, but retains only external signs such.
Answer:
1) identification and generalization of various social interests,
2) development of a policy option (political course),
3) nomination of candidates for elections,
4) representation of the interests of certain blocks of social forces in the authorities;
5) communication of civil society with the state;
6) replenishment of the ranks of their supporters;
7) involvement of citizens in politics (political socialization), education of professional politicians.
C 26. Formulate four judgments that reveal the various functions of political parties in modern society.
Answer:
1) The activity of political parties makes it possible to identify and generalize a variety of social interests.
2) Political parties develop alternative options policy (political course).
Political parties nominate candidates for elections
4) Political parties represent the interests of certain blocks of social forces in government.
C26. Show on three examples the presence of a multi-party system in modern Russia.
Answer:
There are a significant number of political parties and movements (for example, " United Russia”, “Fair Russia”, LDPR, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, etc.); deputies of the State Duma are elected according to the lists of political parties, subsequently forming parliamentary factions; meetings of the President of the Russian Federation, members of the Government of the Russian Federation with leaders of political parties and movements, parliamentary factions, i.e. the influence of political parties and movements on the adoption of power decisions and the determination of the directions of the country's political development is obvious.
C 26. Illustrate with three examples the pluralistic nature of Russia's political system.
Answer:
1) nomination of different candidates in the elections to the authorities in the center and in the regions;
2) the existence in the country of mass media defending various political views;
3) the existence in the country of a multi-party system, parties that have ideological differences in their programs;
4) various factions are formed and operate in the lower house of parliament
From 27. In Japan until 1993, the invariably ruling Liberal Democratic Party was constantly ahead of twice or more the second most important party (Socialist), which received about 20% of the vote. Due to the fact that the other parties represented in Parliament had very little in common with the Socialists, the Liberal Democrats had no difficulty in organizing the work of the Cabinet and approving their bills. Is it possible to state that there was a one-party system in Japan? If not, how would you characterize this system? Justify your position.
Answer:
It cannot be stated that Japan had a one-party system. In this country, there are many parties that can really influence the political life of society, which completely does not correspond to the essence of a one-party system, which is distinguished by the functioning of one party, which eventually removes all competitors from political life. The party system in Japan can be described as "atypical" multi-party or quasi-multiparty.
C26. List three differences between political movements and political parties.
Answer:
Ø political movements strive not to achieve power, but to influence power in the direction they need;
Ø political movements are closer to the everyday life of people;
Ø movements have a broader, amorphous, motley social base than a political party;
Ø the need for complete ideological unity of the participants in the movement, in contrast to a political party; political movements do not have a strict hierarchy, that is, a clear distribution of functions between the center and the periphery is not found in them, etc.
Elections
C26. Scientists have determined that the voter's choice during voting is determined by a significant number of factors. List any three factors that influence a voter's decision.
Answer:
1) the level of income and education of the voter;
2) the influence of the social environment and environment;
3) the position of the media that are available to him;
4) national, religious, cultural factors.
C 26. In many states, an age limit has been introduced for the exercise by a citizen of the right to elect and be elected to public authorities. Does this qualification correspond to the values of a democratic society? Give three reasons for your opinion.
Answer:
1. the age limit does not contradict the values of a democratic society;
2.: - the age limit applies to all citizens of the corresponding age, i.e., the principle of equality is not violated;
The age limit does not exclude other opportunities for adolescents and young people to participate in the political life of society;
The age limit does not violate the principle of periodic election of public authorities;
The age limit is expedient due to the timing of the political socialization of adolescents and youth.
C26. Name three ways of political participation of citizens and illustrate each of them. concrete example
Answer:
1. Participation in elections (example: a citizen can participate in elections as a voter, using his active suffrage, a citizen can be elected to government bodies, to elective positions as a candidate);
2. addressing proposals to the authorities (example: a citizen can take part in the discussion of new legislative initiatives by sending his proposals to parliamentarians, can send a letter or proposal to the government);
3. membership in political organizations (example: a citizen may be a member of a political party, may be a member of social movements or political clubs)
C26. It is known that many democratic countries are faced with the problem of low voter turnout. Some countries impose special sanctions (for example: fines) on such voters, others consider turnout to be a voter's right, which he may not use. Guess what could be the reasons for low voter turnout? Name three reasons.
Answer:
1) Low activity may be associated with political stability.
2) Voters have lost faith in democratic institutions, do not trust the authorities.
3) People are busy private life and business, no interest in politics.
4) Crisis phenomena in society, the inability of the authorities to find a way out, disbelief in changes for the better.
C 7. Society and the state are interested in the activity of the individual, which "is an important condition for the development of a democratic society." Based on your knowledge of the social science course and your life experience, give three arguments confirming the correctness of the author .
Answer:
1) an important condition for the development of democracy are elections to government bodies. The active participation of citizens in the electoral process depends on how fully the elected deputies will reflect the interests of society;
2) the activity of citizens, their participation in public associations make it possible to create control over power, to protect society from personal willfulness, despotism of politicians who have come to power;
3) the activity of citizens is a condition that ensures independence in matters of local self-government.
C27. In the election of deputies to a representative body of power in one of the electoral districts, there was a struggle between three candidates. One of them got 42% of the votes and became the winner. What electoral system was used for elections? Give two arguments .
Answer:
1) elections were carried out according to majority system of relative majority ;
2) two arguments: 1) elections by electoral districts belong to the majoritarian electoral system;
2) under the majority system of a relative majority, a candidate who has won less than half of the votes, but more than each of his rivals, can win. Other arguments may be given.
From 27. Your friend is running in a single-mandate district for deputies of the State Duma. 48% of voters in this constituency voted for him, while his competitors received 31% and 21% of the vote, respectively. Can you congratulate your friend on his election? Give two arguments.
Answer:
1) The correct answer is given: it is indicated that the candidate won the election, i.e. he can be congratulated on his election;
2) the following arguments are given:
Said to have won in a single-member constituency;
Elections were carried out according to the majoritarian system, the system of relative majority.
C 27. In the state of N., representative bodies of power are created in accordance with the rule: "The winner takes all." To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes cast in the constituency. What type can be attributed to the electoral system of the state of N.? On what basis did you define it? List the advantages and disadvantages of this type of electoral system.
Answer:
Type of electoral system of the state of N.: majoritarian system (absolute majority).
hallmark under the majoritarian system (one deputy - one constituency), the winner of the elections is the one who won 50% + 1 vote.
C 27. During the campaign for the election of the head of the regional administration, one of the candidates registered by the election commission was withdrawn from the election race. The court upheld the decision of the Electoral Commission. What legal grounds could the Electoral Commission be guided by when removing a candidate? Give three reasons
Answer:
1) the election commission found out during the verification that the candidate submitted falsified lists with signatures
2) the candidate could incorrectly indicate information about his income and property
3) the candidate could violate the electoral legislation during his election campaign, use unauthorized means, administrative resources
From 27. On the day of the election of deputies of the State Duma, leaflets were distributed at polling stations in favor of one of the candidates. How do you assess the above example from the point of view of Russian electoral legislation? According to what rules (specify three) should the election campaign of candidates for deputies be conducted?
Answer
1) an assessment is given, for example: such a fact is contrary to the norms of the electoral law, the day before the election, campaigning for a candidate should be stopped, any pressure on the choice of a voter on election day is illegal;
2) rules are given, for example:
All candidates must have equal access to the media;
Same air time for their campaign speeches,
Funds for the election campaign should go to a special fund, and their spending should be transparent to society and the authorities.
From 27. Elections of the head of administration were held in the region. In the second round, about a third of the votes of the voters who took part in the voting were cast against both candidates. Name any three reasons for protest voting in this area.
Answer:
1) the situation in this area is probably difficult, and people do not trust the authorities;
2) many people did not find positions in the programs of both candidates that would interest them;
3) candidates did not take into account the interests of voters;
4) people do not believe in the possibility positive changes in society.
C 7. Country N. is a democratic state with a dynamically developing market economy and high level the lives of most citizens. However, every year in the country of N. there is a growing number of citizens who evade participation in elections at various levels. List three possible reasons evasion of the citizens of this country from fulfilling their civic duty as a voter.
Answer:
1) people are accustomed to stable and rich life and do not see the differences between political leaders and parties that are in power;
2) the people of this country are dominated by private interest, they are absorbed in their private lives and are not interested in
public problems, including the political struggle;
3) in the political arena of this country there are no bright political personalities which could attract the interests of citizens, increase their involvement in political life;
they see those forces in the political arena that will help them improve their situation.
The functions of political parties mean their socially useful role and those specific tasks that parties solve in the course of their activities to achieve their program goals.. The range of functions of parties may vary depending on the political regime existing in the country, the type of state, as well as on the level of development and degree of maturity of the political system of society, the degree of development of the social structure of society, the type dominant in the country economic system, the political culture of society and a number of other factors. Considering in specific political conditions the degree of influence of the above factors on the range of functions of political parties, they distinguish several basic functions.
1. Function of detection and formation the most essential interests of those social groups or classes whose interests the given party intends to defend and on whose political support the party expects to rely in its struggle for power. This function is implemented through the preparation of party programs, election platforms of parties, political statements of party congresses, as well as through the wide promotion of these documents among the population. This function can be designated as an ideological-theoretical function or the function of articulating the interests of the electorate.
2. Electoral. Its essence lies in the fact that the parties usually act as the most active subjects of the struggle for the conquest of political power: select and nominate candidates for elective positions, coordinate the course of the election campaign, participate in the financing of election campaigns, etc.
3. Participation in the implementation of state power through factions in parliament, as well as through its representatives, whom the party managed to hold for certain elective positions (mayors, governors, senators, president) or government posts (ministers, heads of local executive authorities, etc.)
4. Political parties - political activation and consolidation of political efforts of broad sections of voters. Forms of such activation can be political agitation in the press, on radio, television, at rallies, holding meetings, processions, etc. There are other, more modern technologies activation of the general population, which are based on the use of the latest achievements in such areas of knowledge as the processing and transmission of information.
5. Formation of a personnel reserve of professional politicians, selecting the most suitable candidates for various political positions. This function is sometimes referred to as the "political recruiting" function.
6. The sixth function of the party is that it acts as a kind of link between society and the state, between the people and the government.
Political parties play an important role in the public life of a democratic tic society. Name any three functions of a political party in the political system of society and illustrate each of them with a specific example.
1. expression of powerfully significant interests of certain groups (the parliamentary faction of a political party represents the interests of the middle class, seeking the adoption of legislation regulating the activities of small and medium businesses and tax benefits)
2. development of political programs (the political party presented its program for the development of civil society)
3. political socialization of citizens and their involvement in political life (a political party held a series of rallies in support of democratic reforms…)
Formulate four judgments that reveal the various functions of poly political parties in modern society
We have already spoken about the need for parties in a representative order, about the advantages and disadvantages arising from their struggle. Political freedom calls on social forces to participate in public affairs. Because of this, the political movement here takes place only through the interaction of those various currents and directions into which society is divided. Here lies main source political life in constitutional states.
Parties naturally arise on the basis of public opinion. The necessity of discipline and organization for collective action transforms an unorganized mass of free random thoughts into more or less strong and durable forces capable of being subjects of political action.
With organized parties, it is possible to calculate, to direct disparate strivings towards a common goal; The more stable the parties are, the more they are fused with the history of the people, the more their program is determined, the more correctly the political life based on freedom flows. On the contrary, where the party represents only a vague fermentation of infinitely diverse trends, there only chaos is born from political freedom. On the other hand, only with political freedom can real parties be formed, because only then does it become possible and necessary to act together in the political field, to achieve certain goals through the constant and joint efforts of many. But freedom alone is not enough for this; it is necessary that the elements necessary for parties exist in society, that a political meaning be developed, that the main directions be determined, that people be grouped around certain principles created by them, and finally, that political mores be developed, which are created by any social activity that requires joint efforts. In a word, only matured public opinion gives rise to real political parties. And under these conditions, they do not arise suddenly, but are formed slowly, in a political struggle, they must go through many trials before they receive the proper strength and strength. Therefore, one should not think that parliamentary government is immediately established by the establishment of a representative order. It is impossible until the parties have accumulated work experience and have not proved their ability to govern the state.
(B.N. Chicherin)
C2. Based on the text, indicate any four conditions for the transformation of political parties into “subjects of political action”
C3. What words does the author use to characterize organized and unorganized parties in society? (Write down one author's judgment characterizing each of these groups of parties) Give an example of the activity of one of the existing (or existing) organized parties confirming the author's description.
C4. Some people think that parliamentary government begins immediately after the election of party representatives to the authorities. Does the author share this opinion? Support your answer with words from the text and give an example illustrating the validity of this judgment.
| C1. 1. Political freedom calls on social forces to participate in public affairs 2. main source: the interaction of those diverse currents and directions into which society is divided | |
| C2. 1. having discipline in the party ranks 3. having an organization for collective action 4. having political freedom 5. developing political sense 6. defining the main directions of their activities 7. uniting people around some of the principles they created 8. developing political mores 9. social activity requiring joint efforts 10. formed public opinion | |
| C3. 1a. With organized parties, it is possible to calculate, to direct disparate strivings towards a common goal; The more stable the parties are, the more they are fused with the history of the people, the more their program is determined, the more correctly the political life, based on freedom, flows. where a party represents only a vague fermentation of infinitely diverse directions, there one chaos is born from political freedom . | |
| C4. 1. Does not share 2. One should not think that parliamentary government is immediately established by the establishment of a representative order. It is impossible until the parties have accumulated work experience and have not proved their ability to govern the state. 3. In countries undergoing a transition to democracy, party coalitions that have emerged in parliaments as a result of early elections are characterized by instability and inability to make consolidated decisions. |
C6. Use three examples to illustrate the features of the government of a conservative party.
