Abstract: Functions and mechanisms for the exercise of political power. Political science

political society ideological power

Expressing and protecting the interests of certain social strata, political power, at the same time, one way or another, is engaged in organizing the political life of society as a whole. It “develops as a system of functions from the modeling of one’s own activities; analysis of the political and social situation and specific situations; defining your strategy and private tactical objectives; supervision and suppression... of behavior deviating from norms; appropriation and disposal of necessary resources (material and spiritual...); distribution of policy resources - confidence measures, agreements, exchange of concessions and advantages, awards and rewards, etc.; transformation of the political and public (social, economic, legal, cultural, moral) environment of power in its interests and in the interests of its policies.”

Political power manifests itself in a variety of forms, the main ones being dominance, leadership, organization, and control.

Dominance presupposes the absolute or relative subordination of some people and their communities to the subjects of power and the social strata that they represent.

Leadership is expressed in the ability of a subject of power to carry out his will by developing programs, concepts, guidelines, determining prospects for the development of the social system as a whole and its various links. Leadership determines current and long-term goals, develops strategic and tactical tasks.

Management is manifested in the conscious, purposeful influence of the subject of power on various parts of the social system, on controlled objects in order to implement management guidelines. Control is carried out using various methods, which can be administrative, authoritarian, democratic, based on coercion, etc.

Political power manifests itself in various forms. A meaningful typology of political power can be built according to various criteria:

  • - according to the degree of institutionalization - government, city, school, etc.
  • - by subject of power - class, party, people's, presidential, parliamentary, etc.;
  • - By quantitative characteristic-- individual (monocratic), oligarchic (power of a cohesive group), polyarchic (multiple power of a number of institutions or individuals);
  • - By social type government - monarchical, republican;
  • - according to the regime of government - democratic, authoritarian, despotic, totalitarian, bureaucratic, etc.;
  • - by social type - socialist, bourgeois, capitalist, etc...."

An important type of political power is state power. The concept of state power is much narrower than the concept of “political power”. In this regard, the use of these concepts as identical is incorrect.

State power, like political power in general, can achieve its goals through political education, ideological influence, dissemination of necessary information, etc. However, this does not express its essence. “State power is a form of political power that has the monopoly right to issue laws binding on the entire population, and relies on a special apparatus of coercion as one of the means for complying with laws and orders. State power equally means both a specific organization and practical activities to implement the goals and objectives of this organization.”

When characterizing state power, two extremes cannot be allowed. On the one hand, it is a mistake to consider this power only as a power that is engaged only in oppressing the people, and on the other hand, to characterize it only as a power that is completely absorbed in concerns about the well-being of the people. State power constantly implements both. Moreover, by oppressing the people, the state government realizes not only its own interests, but also the interests of the people, who are interested in the stability of society, in its normal functioning and development; By showing concern for the welfare of the people, it ensures the realization not so much of their interests as of its own, for only by satisfying the needs of the majority of the population, to a certain extent, can it preserve its privileges, ensure the realization of its interests, its well-being.

In reality, there may be different systems of government. All of them, however, come down to two main ones - federal and unitary. The essence of these systems of power is determined by the nature of the existing division of state power between its subjects different levels. If between the central and local government bodies there are intermediate bodies that, in accordance with the constitution, are endowed with certain power functions, then a federal system of power operates. If there are no such intermediate authorities or they are completely dependent on the central authorities, then a unitary system of state power operates. State power performs legislative, executive and judicial functions. In this regard, it is divided into legislative, executive and judicial powers.

In some countries, to the above three powers, a fourth is added - the electoral power, which is represented by electoral courts that decide questions about the correctness of the election of deputies. In the constitutions of individual countries we are talking about five or even six powers. The fifth power is represented by the Comptroller General with the apparatus subordinate to him: the sixth is the constituent power to adopt the constitution.

The expediency of the separation of powers is determined, firstly, by the need to clearly define the functions, competence and responsibilities of each branch of government; secondly, the need to prevent abuse of power, the establishment of dictatorship, totalitarianism, usurpation of power; thirdly, the need to exercise mutual control over the branches of government; fourthly, the need of society to combine such contradictory aspects of life as power and freedom, law and justice, state and society, command and submission; fifthly, the need to create checks and balances in the exercise of power functions.

Legislative power is based on the principles of constitutionality and the rule of law. It is formed through free elections. This power amends the constitution, determines the fundamentals of the state's domestic and foreign policy, approves the state budget, adopts laws binding on all citizens and authorities, and controls their implementation. The supremacy of the legislative branch is limited by the principles of government, the constitution, and human rights.

Executive-administrative power exercises direct state power. She not only executes the laws, but she herself issues regulations, takes a legislative initiative. This power must be based on the law and act within the framework of the law. The right to control the activities of the executive branch should belong to representative bodies of state power.

The judicial branch represents a relatively independent structure of state power. In its actions, this power must be independent of the legislative and executive powers.

The beginning of the theoretical substantiation of the problem of separation of powers is associated with the name of the French philosopher and historian S. L. Montesquieu, who, as already noted when considering the stages of development of political thought, proposed dividing power into legislative (a representative body elected by the people), executive power (the power of the monarch) and judiciary (independent courts).

Subsequently, Montesquieu's ideas were developed in the works of other thinkers and legislatively enshrined in the constitutions of many countries. The US Constitution, for example, which was adopted in 1787, states that the powers of the legislative branch of the country belong to Congress, executive branch carried out by the President, judicial - by the Supreme Court and those lower courts that are approved by Congress. The principle of separation of powers, according to constitutions, underlies state power in a number of other countries. However, it has not been fully implemented in any country. At the same time, in many countries the basis of state power is the principle of uniqueness.

In our country, for many years it was believed that the idea of ​​separation of powers cannot be implemented in practice due to the fact that power is united and indivisible. In recent years the situation has changed. Now everyone is talking about the need for separation of powers. However, the problem of separation has not yet been resolved in practice due to the fact that the separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers is often replaced by opposition between these powers.

The solution to the problem of separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers lies in finding the optimal relationship between them as directions of a single state power, clearly defining their functions and powers.

A relatively independent type of political power is party power. As a type of political power, this power is not recognized by all researchers. In the domestic scientific, educational, educational and methodological literature, the point of view continues to dominate, according to which a party can be a link in the system of political power, but not a subject of power. Many foreign researchers do not recognize the party as a subject of power. Reality has long refuted this point of view. It is known, for example, that for many decades in our country the subject of political power was the CPSU. Parties have been the real subjects of political power for many years in industrial developed countries West.

Political power performs various functions. It implements general organizational, regulatory, control functions, organizes the political life of society, regulates political relations, structuring the political organization of society, formation of public consciousness, etc.

In domestic scientific, educational, educational and methodological literature, the functions of political power are often characterized with a “plus” sign. For example, B.I. Krasnov writes: “The government must: 1) ensure the legal rights of citizens, their constitutional freedoms always and in everything; 2) affirm the law as the core of social relations and be able to obey the law; 3) perform economic and creative functions...".

Power as a phenomenon public life

The fact that “the government should” ensure “the rights of citizens”, “their constitutional freedoms”, “perform creative functions”, etc. is certainly a good wish. The only bad thing is that it is often not implemented in practice. In reality, the government not only ensures the rights and constitutional freedoms of citizens, but also tramples them; it not only creates, but also destroys, etc. Therefore, it seems that some foreign researchers give more objective characteristics of the functions of political power.

According to foreign political scientists, power “manifests itself” through the following main features and functions:

  • - coercion;
  • - luring;
  • - “blocking consequences” (i.e., hindering a competitor and the struggle for power);
  • - “creation of demands” (artificial formation of needs that can only be satisfied by an agent of power, a kind of political marketing);
  • - “stretching the network of power” (inclusion of additional sources of dependence on agents);
  • - blackmail (threats in the present or promises of troubles from disobedience in the future);
  • - tips;
  • - informational direct and indirect control (using warnings, recommendations, revenge, etc.)

Political power performs its functions through political institutions, institutions, and organizations that make up political systems.

Introduction

The problem of power and power relations is central to political science. This is due to the interconnection and inseparability of politics and power.

Power - the most important means implementation of the policy. Carrying out one's own political line, realizing one's fundamental interests, and managing society are impossible without possessing power. At the same time, the struggle for power, its possession and use is essential component political activity.

In modern political science, there are a number of approaches to the problem of power that focus attention on certain aspects of it.

Most Western authors, following M. Weber, consider the category of legitimacy as dependent on more general categories. This leads to a simplification of this concept, and even its reduction by some researchers to a procedural democratic form.

Development of problems of legitimacy and legitimation of political power in Russian science began relatively recently and includes both the development of the achievements of Western political thought and its own developments.

1. The concept of power.

The power is in itself general view represents the ability (property) of a certain subject (individual, collective, organization) to subjugate the will and behavior of another subject (individual, collective, organization) in its own interests or in the interests of other persons.

How power is characterized the following signs:

1. Power is a social phenomenon, that is, public.

2. Power is an integral component of society at all stages of its development. The fact that power is a constant companion of society is explained by the fact that society is a complexly organized system (social organism), which constantly needs management, that is, a process of ordering aimed at maintaining the system in a normal, efficient state - a state of functioning.

3. Power can exist and function only within the framework of a social relationship, that is, a relationship that exists between people (individuals, their groups, other social formations). There cannot be a relationship of power between a person and a thing or between a person and an animal.

4. The exercise of power is always an intellectual-volitional process.

5. Social relations within the framework of which power exists and is exercised are a type of social relations and are called power relations. A power relationship is always a two-way relationship, one of the subjects of which is the powerful (dominant) subject, and the other is the subject.

6. The most important feature power is that it is always based on force. It is the presence of power that determines the position of a particular subject as a ruler.

7. Due to the fact that power can only take place in a conscious-volitional relationship and always presupposes the subordination of the will of the subject subject to the will of the ruling subject, the absence of such subordination in a specific relationship means the absence of power in this respect. In other words, conscious submission is a condition for having power in a given specific relationship over a given specific subject.

Of the many definitions of power, one of the most frequently used is the definition of power as the ability and opportunity to exercise one’s will, to have a decisive influence on the activities and behavior of people with the help of authority, law, and violence.

Thus, power is a special kind of influence - coercive influence. This is the right and opportunity to command, dispose and manage.

Power arises from the need of people to coordinate activities huge amount various subjects, it is necessary to maintain the integrity of society.

Max Weber interpreted political power as a relationship of domination over people based on legitimate violence. Henry Kissinger considered power to be the most powerful stimulant. Otto von Bismarck, in his time, described power as the art of the possible.

Political power harmonizes and coordinates public interests and behavior of people, social communities and organizations, subordinating them to political will through coercion and persuasion.

2. Types of power. Features of political power.

One of the most meaningful classifications of power is its division, in accordance with the resources on which it is based, into economic, social, spiritual-informational and coercive power.

Economic power- this is control over economic resources, ownership of various types material values. In ordinary, relatively calm periods of social development, economic power dominates over other types of power, since “economic control is not just control of one area of ​​​​human life, in no way connected with the rest, it is control over the means of achieving all our goals.”

Closely related to economic power social power. If economic power involves the distribution of material wealth, then social power involves the distribution of position in the social structure, statuses, positions, benefits and privileges. Many modern states are characterized by a desire for democratization social power. In relation to government in enterprises, this manifests itself, for example, in depriving the owner of the right to hire and fire an employee, to individually determine his salary. wages, promote or demote, change working conditions, etc. All these social issues regulated by law and collective labor agreements and decided with the participation of trade unions, works councils, state and public labor hiring bureaus, courts, etc.

Spiritual-informational power- this is power over people, exercised with the help of scientific knowledge and information. Knowledge is used both to prepare government decisions and to directly influence the minds of people to ensure their loyalty and support for the government. Such influence is carried out through institutions of socialization (schools, other educational institutions, educational societies, etc.), as well as with the help of the media. Information power can serve different purposes: not only the dissemination of objective information about the activities of the government and the state of society, but also the manipulation of people’s consciousness and behavior.

Coercive power relies on power resources and means control over people through the use or threat of use physical strength.

There are other approaches to identifying types of power.

So, depending on the subjects, power is divided into:

State;

Party;

Trade union;

Army;

Family, etc.

Based on the breadth of distribution, the following types of power are distinguished:

Mega level (power at the level international organizations: UN, NATO, European Union, etc.);

Macro level (power at the level of central bodies of the state);

Meso-level (power at the level of organizations subordinate to the center: regional, district);

Micro level (power in primary organizations and small groups).

By function government agencies power differs:

Legislative;

Executive;

Judicial.

According to the methods of interaction between the subject and the object of power, power is distinguished:

Liberal;

Democratic.

Depending on the social base of power, the following types of power are distinguished:

Polyarchy (rule of many);

Oligarchy (the power of financiers and industrialists);

Plutocracy (power of the rich elite);

Theocracy (power of the clergy);

Partocracy (party power);

Ochlocracy (mob rule).

Political power occupies special place in the power structure. It is due to a number of significant features that distinguish it from all other types of power. The features of political power include the following:

1) supremacy, i.e. the binding nature of its decisions on any other government. Political power can limit the influence of powerful corporations, media and other institutions or eliminate them altogether;

2) publicity, i.e. universality and impersonality. This means that political power addresses all citizens on behalf of the whole society through the use of law;

3) monocentricity, i.e. presence of a single decision-making center. Unlike political power, economic, social, spiritual and informational power is polycentric, since in a market democratic society there are many independent owners, media, social funds and so on.;

4) diversity of resources. Political power, and especially the state, uses not only coercion, but also economic, social, cultural and information resources;

5) legality in the use of force and coercion against citizens.

The most important element of political power is state power. What is the difference between political and state power?

1. The concept of political power is broader than the concept of state power, since political activity can be carried out not only within the framework of state bodies, but also within the framework of the activities of various political movements, parties, trade unions, pressure groups, etc. In other words, political power is dispersed throughout the entire field of political space formed by the interaction of all political subjects.

2. State power is built on the principle of vertical connections (i.e. hierarchy, subordination of lower levels to higher ones, executive power to the legislative branch). Political power is exercised on the principle of horizontal connections (such as coexistence, rivalry, struggle among various subjects of political power (industrial, financial, military and other elites, pressure groups, individual leaders, etc.).

3. State power, according to the Russian constitution, ends at the level of regions, then power is exercised by bodies local government. The latter are subjects of political, but no longer state power.

3. Legitimacy of political power. Problems of legitimacy.

Recognition of a given political power - its institutions, decisions and actions - as legitimate is called in political science legitimacy .

The legitimacy of political power is determined by many circumstances, including the compliance of the regime, the goals of the elite, its principles and methods of action with traditions that are or are not reflected in laws, the popularity of leaders, etc.

There are three sources of legitimacy of political power:

Ideological;

Moral;

Legal.

The very concept of legitimacy currently allows for different interpretations. However, the basic idea that effective and stable government must be legitimate is not in doubt. A number of authors prefer to consider legitimacy from the point of view of characteristics of a political system or regime, while their opponents see it as an important element of mass consciousness.

Legitimacy studies are conducted within two main research approaches: normative, which involves the development of criteria for the legitimacy of political regimes, and empirical, which aims to identify the cause-and-effect relationship between the values ​​and attitudes emerging in the mass consciousness and its recognition of the legitimacy of state power.

M. Weber based the concept of legitimacy on the idea that if, due to certain traditions, exceptional qualities of a leader, or citizens’ understanding of the advantages of the existing government, they express their readiness to obey the authorities, then in this case the management process can be effectively carried out with minimal use of violence .

Developing Weber's typology of legitimacy in relation to the realities of the second half of the twentieth century, American political scientist David Easton proposed his own three types of legitimacy: ideological, structural and personal. This approach reflected an understanding of the fundamental role of ideology in shaping the legitimacy of institutions of state power.

An attempt to combine normative criteria of legitimacy with results empirical research legitimacy of state institutions, was the introduction of the term “democratic legitimacy”, implying the introduction of criteria that make it possible to distinguish democratic legitimacy from authoritarian one.

The study of the phenomenon of legitimacy is based on the concept of legitimacy developed by Max Weber at the beginning of the twentieth century and the classification of models of legitimate domination he proposed. The typology of the legitimacy of state power, developed by the German sociologist Max Weber, became the basis for a number of areas of political research.

American political scientist David Easton identified 3 types of legitimacy of political power: ideological, structural and personal.

Max Weber believed that power can be based on a) personal qualities ah, b) traditions and customs, c) formal law. In all three cases, power is socially approved, i.e. legitimate. According to these three sources of power, a distinction is made between charismatic, traditional and legal power.

Legitimate power is usually characterized as lawful and fair. Legitimacy is associated with the authority of the government, its support for the ideals and values ​​shared by the majority of citizens, the agreement of the government and its subjects on fundamental political principles, for example, freedom of speech, protection civil rights or social help poor sections of the population.

Table 1. Types of power according to M. Weber.


Legitimate power

Charismatic power

Traditional authority

Legal power

People obey the leader (chief, king, president) due to his exceptional personal qualities. Such leaders usually appear during periods of great social upheaval. They challenge the existing order, embodying either good or evil. Example: Jesus Christ, Lenin, Hitler.

People obey the leader (chief, king, president) due to established traditions and customs. The people respect them precisely because they support the existing system. An example is the royal and royal dynasties of antiquity, the Middle Ages and the New Age.

People obey a leader (chief, king, president) because they have been given the right to command by some legislative body, such as parliament. For leaders, leading a country is not only a service to society, but also a job. Officials from the state apparatus are typical servants of the law.

Charismatic power. Ruling a country or group of people based on outstanding personal qualities is called charismatic. Charisma (Greek - mercy, divine gift) exceptional talent; charismatic leader - a person endowed with authority in the eyes of his followers; charisma is based on the exceptional qualities of his personality - wisdom, heroism, “holiness”. Charisma represents highest degree informal authority. We need not just something that stands out, outstanding qualities, we need such exceptional properties that allow this person to be considered great or brilliant. Charismatic power is based on faith and on the emotional, personal relationship of the leader and the masses. Especially often, a charismatic leader appears during periods of revolutionary change, when the new government cannot rely on the authority of tradition or the authority of the law. After all, he himself or under his leadership had just overthrown the people legitimate authority, but new traditions have not yet appeared. Therefore, we have to resort to exalting the personality of the leader, whose authority sanctifies new institutions of power. This phenomenon is called the cult of personality. Cult of personality (from Latin - veneration) is an excessive exaltation of the personality of a ruler, leader, based almost on religious worship. Often the cult of personality received formal expression in the sacralization of power.

Traditional authority. It is achieved through customs, the habit of obeying authority, and belief in the steadfastness and sacredness of ancient orders. Traditional dominance is characteristic of monarchies. In its motivation, it is in many ways similar to relationships in a patriarchal family, based on unquestioning obedience to elders and on the personal, unofficial nature of the relationship between the head of the family and its members. Traditional power is durable due to the institution of inheritance of power by the monarch, which reinforces the authority of the state with centuries-old traditions of honoring power.

Subjects show loyalty to rulers vested with power according to custom. Loyalty to the leader and support from his followers are passed on from one generation to the next. An example is the relationship between master and servant. In the family estates of the European aristocracy, it happened that dynasties of masters and dynasties of servants walked through time in parallel rows. The children of masters became new masters, and the children of servants became new servants of the same master's family. The tradition entered into blood and flesh so deeply that parting with one’s master was tantamount to death.

Legal power. It is also called rationally legalized, since domination is associated with faith in the correctness of legal norms and the need for their implementation. Subordinates follow impersonal norms, principles and rules, so they obey only those who are endowed with appropriate authority. One leader can manifest himself as an outstanding personality, even be charismatic, but they will obey another - a gray one, not outstanding, but placed at the top. It often happens that subordinates immediately change their minds when a new manager is appointed head of a department, although they have worked with the old one for 20 years and he seems to be a traditional leader for them. They will express sympathy and warm support to their fired and beloved boss, but no one will go against the order. This is a sign that in this society it is not tradition or charisma that rules everything, but the law, the order, the decree.

In a democratic state, people are not subject to the personality of the leader, but to the laws within which government representatives are elected and act. Legitimacy here is based on citizens' trust in the structure of the state, and not in individuals. With a legal type of government, each employee receives a fixed salary.

In their pure form, these types of power are rare. It is much more common to see a combination of the two. Head of the Catholic and Orthodox Church, like clergymen lower down the hierarchical ladder, act for parishioners at the same time as: a) charismatic leaders; b) traditional leaders; c) legal rulers. However, the church is perhaps the only institution of society where the three types of power are represented almost in full. More often it happens that legal rule acts as the basis of the managerial hierarchy, and traditionalism and charisma are added in varying proportions. To a charismatic leader, people obey voluntarily, with enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. This is exactly what all rulers strive for. But very few achieve it. In every century, when it comes to heads of state, there are no more than five truly charismatic leaders. Although some periods of history, such as the 20th century, may be more productive. Most monarchs were content to rule based on law and tradition. The power of Stalin and Hitler cannot be called traditional, but it can be called charismatic and legal. In young democracies, the legitimacy of power may be based not so much on respect for elected institutions, but on the authority of a specific person at the head of the state.

The political system of modern states includes elements of all three types of power.

An important place in the functioning of power is occupied by the problems of its delegitimation, that is, loss of trust in power, deprivation of public support. The legitimacy of power is weakened due to its ineffectiveness, inability to protect society from crime, corruption, commitment to forceful methods of resolving contradictions, pressure on funds mass media, bureaucratization and other factors.

Every country has a system for ensuring the legitimacy of power. The structural components of this system are the bodies that legitimize political power, directly or indirectly contributing to the preservation of people's trust in the existing political system. These are bodies of state power and administration (legislative, executive and judicial powers); bodies influencing political consciousness (mass media); power structures (bodies of violence).

Methods of legitimation include persuasion (influencing political consciousness); inclusion (participation in power, provision of privileges); traditionalism (appeal to stereotypes of thinking and behavior); The possibility of using force cannot be ruled out either.

To maintain the legitimacy of power, the following are used: changes in legislation and mechanisms government controlled in accordance with new requirements; the desire to use the traditions of the population in lawmaking and in carrying out practical policies; implementation of legal precautions against a possible decline in the legitimacy of the government; maintaining law and order in society. The problem of legitimacy is largely a problem of mass participation in government. The system's failure to ensure participation undermines its legitimacy.

There are many factors that weaken the legitimacy of political power. Great damage to legitimacy is caused by a situation in which political power is powerless to protect society from crime, corruption and other antisocial phenomena.

To solve problems of legitimacy, it is necessary to identify its sources:

· the ability of a person to assimilate habitual patterns of behavior and reproduce them in his actions;

· a person’s sensory and emotional perception of the surrounding world, including the world of political power;

· a person’s value attitude towards the world around him;

· goal-oriented behavior of a person, that is, his ability to recognize his interests and needs, develop his own target programs to achieve them. The attitude towards power structures in this case is based on their assessment as a force capable or unable to create the necessary conditions for the individual to achieve his goals.

Conclusion

Knowledge of the sources of legitimacy allows us to better understand the phenomenon of a crisis of power, the essence of which is the destruction of the institution of political power, expressed in mass non-compliance with the rules and norms prescribed by this institution. All this is a consequence of widespread disappointment in the old system of values ​​and the breaking of established traditions, strong emotional excitement of the masses and increasing unpredictability social life. Overcoming the crisis of power means minimizing political deviation, which can be achieved in two ways:

1) use of force;

2) a precise definition of the source of legitimacy on which to rely when creating a normative basis for the institution of political power.

Each of these methods of achieving legitimacy has its own characteristics and requires unique tactics and knowledge of the dominant trends in mass sentiment.

It should be remembered that the demand for legitimate power arose as a reaction against the violent change of power, the unlawful use of force by power and the forced redrawing of state borders, but the principle of legitimism is not perfect in the sense that it does not at all guarantee justice that would satisfy everyone. Legitimacy may hide the collusion of the most influential forces to the detriment of the weakest forces or the desire of the weak to equalize themselves with the strong.

List of used literature:

1. Power // Political Science Dictionary: In 2 parts 4.1 - M., 1994;

2. Weber M. Politics as a calling and profession // Weber M. Selected works. M., 1990;

3. Dogan M. Legitimacy of regimes and the crisis of confidence // Socis. 1994, no. 6;

4. Mayer G. Democratic legitimacy in post-communist society: concepts and problems // Legitimacy and legitimation of power in Russia. – St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg State University, 1995;

5. Pugachev V.P., Solovyov A.I. “Introduction to Political Science”: a textbook for university students - 3rd edition, revised and expanded - M.: Aspect Press, 2001;

6. Hayek. Road to slavery / New World, 1991, No. 7.


Dogan M. Legitimacy of regimes and the crisis of confidence // Socis. 1994, no. 6.

Power // Political Science Dictionary: In 2 parts 4.1 - M., 1994. - p.45.

Hayek. Road to slavery / New World, 1991, No. 7, p. 218

Weber M. Politics as a calling and profession // Weber M. Selected works. M., 1990. - p. 644-706.

Mayer G. Democratic legitimacy in post-communist society: concepts and problems // Legitimacy and legitimation of power in Russia. / Rep. ed. Lantsov S.A., Eliseev S.M. – St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg State University, 1995. - p.86-118.

Pugachev V.P., Solovyov A.I. “Introduction to Political Science”: a textbook for university students - 3rd edition, revised and expanded - M.: Aspect Press, 2001. - P. 79.

Political power is a specific form of social relations between social and institutional subjects of politics, as a result of which some of them have the ability and opportunity to carry out their will, expressed in political and legal norms.

The varieties of political power are (according to the subjects of power) the power of one social group over another (for example, the dominance of one class over another); government; party power, as well as other political organizations and movements; the power of political leaders. Although there is a point of view that state power and political power are one and the same phenomenon. There is a rational grain in this approach because gender. power really exists primarily in relation to the state, and its other agents (parties, leaders) appear with the emergence of the state as its attributes. In this case, it is advisable to divide political power, according to the functions of the institutions that carry it out, into legislative, executive and judicial. Power within a particular social community, depending on the method of organization and methods of ruling, can be democratic or undemocratic, legal and shadow.

The structure of political power includes

    subjects of power (state, parties, leaders),

    objects of power (individual, social group, society),

    functions of power (management, regulation, control),

    power resources.

Power resources are means of imposition, i.e. means by which the power of subjects of power is exerted on the object of power.

There are several classifications of political power resources.

1) utilitarian, forced, normative.

    utilitarian - material and other social benefits related to the everyday interests of people (an example of their action is an increase in social benefits from the state),

    coercive - punitive measures used when utilitarian resources are powerless (for example, prosecution of strike participants who were not afraid of economic sanctions),

    normative resources – influence is exercised by changing the rules of interaction between individuals.

2) economic, social, cultural-informational, coercive and demographic resources.

    economic – various material values,

    social – social statuses,

    cultural and informational – information and means of its dissemination and receipt,

    coercive resources - army, police, court,

    demographic resources - means that a person becomes a resource of power when it is used as a means of implementing someone else’s will. In general, a person is a subject and an object, and not a resource of power.

12. Legitimacy of political power and its types.

Legitimacy (from French - legality, the translation does not correspond to the content of the concept) is a positive assessment, recognition of the legitimacy of power, the consent of the population to obey it. Legitimacy is the goal of any regime, because it guarantees the stability of this regime. Legitimacy and legality should not be confused. In some political systems, power can be legal and illegitimate, as, for example, under the rule of metropolises in colonial states. In others - legitimate, but illegal, as, say, after a revolutionary coup, supported by the majority of the population. Thirdly, both legal and legitimate, as, for example, after the victory of certain forces in elections.

Max Weber made a great contribution to the theory of the legitimacy of political power. He also belongs to the well-known classification of types of legitimacy of power depending on the motivation of submission:

    Traditional legitimacy is characterized by the fact that subordination to power has become part of the customs of the people and has become a tradition. Such legitimacy is characteristic of conservative regimes, as, for example, in states with a monarchical form of government, where supreme power is inherited. Long-term submission to a given power (the power of the monarch), which has become a tradition, creates the effect of justice and legitimacy of this power, which gives it stability and stability.

    Rational (democratic) legitimacy, based on people’s belief in the fairness of formal rules (for example, the rule of law, the election of a legislative body, other general democratic norms) and in the need to implement them. In a state characterized by democratic legitimacy of power, citizens are subject to laws, not to individuals.

    Charismatic legitimacy is based on belief in exceptional qualities, a special gift, i.e. charisma of a political leader. By unconditionally believing all the actions and plans of a charismatic leader, people lose the ability to critically evaluate. This emotional outburst, which shapes the authority of a charismatic leader, most often occurs during a period of revolutionary change.

    Weber also noted particularly totalitarian regimes that were outside the scope of legitimacy theory. Totalitarianism is not legitimate. We can talk about legitimacy here only at the level of the ruling elite.

The legitimacy of power is closely related to its effectiveness. Efficiency characterizes the degree to which the government performs its functions and achieves its objectives. The higher the legitimacy, the more effective the political power and vice versa. For example, crisis situations that have arisen in post-socialist countries give rise to a phenomenon where part of the population does not trust either the leaders who came to power or democratic procedures. There is also no traditional legitimation, because The very foundations of the PSO have been destroyed. This largely complicates the activities of governments in solving various kinds of problems of a generally significant nature.

At the same time, totalitarian regimes, while not being, by and large, legitimate, have proven their effectiveness in certain situations.

Political power is the ability of one person or group of persons to control the behavior of citizens of society, based on national or national objectives. Political power has a dual nature, since it performs a truly legislative function and a representative, abstract political function.

Main features of political power

  • - Availability of an object and subject of political management. Subjects are divided into:
  • - primary - large social groups with their own interests,
  • - secondary - government bodies, political parties and organizations, leaders, political elite,
  • - consolidation in laws of the powers of the subject of governance,
  • - a clear mechanism for implementing the decisions of political authorities in practice,
  • - the principle of (functional) separation of powers,
  • - legitimacy of power:
  • - legality ( legal basis for power)
  • - loyalty (public support for government)
  • - sovereignty, which means independence and indivisibility of power,
  • - authority, power, i.e. the generally recognized influence of the subject of power in all spheres of society,
  • - the coercive nature of power (persuasion, submission, command, domination, violence),
  • - universality of power, which means the functioning of power in all social relations and political processes. Universality, i.e. publicity. This means that political power acts on the basis of law on behalf of the entire society.
  • - Legality in the use of force and other means of power within the country,
  • - Monocentricity, i.e. the existence of a national center (system of government bodies) decision-making,
  • - The widest range of means used to gain, retain and exercise power.

Political power, like any power, means the ability and right of some to exercise their will in relation to others, to command and control others. But at the same time, unlike other forms of power, it has its own specifics. Her distinctive features are:

Supremacy, the binding nature of its decisions for the entire society and, accordingly, for all other types of power. It can limit the influence of other forms of power, placing them within reasonable limits, or eliminate them altogether;

The main elements of power are its subject, object, and means (resources).

The subject of power embodies its active, directing principle. It can be a person, an organ, an organization, a social community, etc. To implement power relations, the subject must have a number of qualities such as the desire to rule and the will to power. In addition, the subject of power must be competent, must know the state and mood of his subordinates, and have authority.

The subject determines the content of the relationship through:

  • -order (order) as an authoritative command to obey the will of the subject of power;
  • -subordination as the behavior of the private will of power:
  • -punishment (sanctions) as a means of influencing the denial of the dominant will;
  • -rationing behavior as a set of rules in accordance with the general interest

The attitude of the object (executors) - the second - largely depends on the order and the nature of the requirements contained in it. essential element authorities. Power is always a two-way relationship between subject and object. Power is inconceivable without the subordination of the object. Where there is no object, there is no power.

The scale of the relationship between the object and the subject of power extends from fierce resistance, the struggle for destruction to voluntary, joyfully accepted obedience.

The most important social reason for the subordination of some people to others is the uneven distribution of power resources. Power resources are very diverse. There are several classifications of resources. According to one of them, resources are divided into utilitarian, coercive and normative. Utilitarian benefits include material and other social benefits; to compulsory - measures of criminal and administrative influence on the inner world, value orientations and norms of human behavior. They are designed to ensure approval of the actions of the subject of power and acceptance of his demands. The second classification is the division of resources in accordance with the most important areas of activity into economic, social, political-power and cultural information.

Economic resources - these are material assets necessary for social production and consumption (money, food, minerals.).

Social resources - this is the ability to increase (or decrease) social status or rank, place in social hierarchy(position, prestige, education, etc.)

Cultural and information resources - knowledge and information, as well as the means of obtaining them: institutes of science and education, the media, etc.

Power resources- this is a weapon and an apparatus of physical coercion, people specially trained for this.

A specific resource of power is the person himself (demographic resources). People are a universal, multifunctional resource that creates resources.

The use of power resources sets in motion all its components, makes its process reality, which occurs in the following stages (forms); domination, leadership, organization and control.

Political power as one of the most important manifestations of power is characterized by the real ability of a given class, group, or individual to carry out the will expressed in politics. The concept of political power is broader than the concept of state power. It is known that political activity is carried out not only within the state but also in other components socio-political system: within the framework of parties, trade unions, international organizations, etc.

In political science, the following basic components of the structure of communication within the framework of state-public power are distinguished:

  • - agents;
  • -values;
  • -ways (instrumental-institutional) and
  • -resources

The interaction between them determines the entire palette of relationships expressed in Russian by the concepts of “dominance” and “subordination”, “will” and “strength”, “control” and “distribution”, “management” and “leadership”, “management” and “pressure”, “power” and “influence”, “authority” and “violence”, etc.

Thus, the relations of “dominance and subordination” of agents of power constitute the central link in the mechanism of social communication between people, in which its participants recognize the existing order of power relations as legitimate, i.e. socially significant and in the necessary way and a stereotype of interaction between people in society.

Let us touch upon the institutional basis of the power structure, which is based on the principle of separation of powers. It was based on a powerful tradition of ensuring stability and balance, the synthesis of autocracy and collectivism in decision making. However, in the ancient and middle ages, the idea of ​​balance came down to the questions: who rules, how the ruler takes into account the interests of everyone who can influence the government.

The separation of powers facilitates mutual control of the activities of government bodies. The theory of separation of powers is also defined as a system of control and balance. It turns out that each government has its own sphere of authority, closed to others, but it also influences the adjacent sphere, since there are issues of joint jurisdiction.

Legislature.

It is based on the principles of the Constitution and the rule of law, and is formed through free elections. The legislative branch amends the constitution, determines the fundamentals of the state's domestic and foreign policy, approves the state budget, adopts laws binding on all executive authorities and citizens, and controls their implementation. The supremacy of the legislative power is limited by the principles of law, constitutions, and human rights.

Legislative bodies and other authorities (judicial and executive) are controlled by voters through a system of popular representation and free democratic elections. IN democratic states The bearer of legislative power is parliament, which can be bicameral or unicameral. The most common is a unicameral parliament. A number of countries have a so-called simple two-chamber parliamentary system, in which one chamber is formed as a result of direct elections, and the other on the basis of territorial proportionality.

Executive and administrative power.

It is characterized by dynamism, increased sensitivity to public life, and is carried out by the government. The peculiarity of the executive branch is that it not only executes laws, but also issues regulations or comes up with legislative initiatives.

If we take into account that this power carries out its activities mainly behind “closed” doors, then in the absence of proper checks, the executive power inevitably crushes both the legislative and judicial powers. Executive and administrative activities must be based on the law and within the framework of the law. It does not have the right to arrogate powers to itself and demand citizens to perform any duties, unless this is provided for by law; its containment is achieved through regular reporting and responsibility to the people's representative office, which has the right to control the activities of the executive branch.

Judicial branch.

It includes institutions that represent an independent structure of a state organization. The state of the judiciary, the attitude towards it in society, the direction of its development have a significant impact on all aspects of society: economic, political, cultural, the status of a person, ensuring and protecting his rights and freedoms. Every person should have firm confidence that his appeal to the judiciary will be completed with a fair decision, because the protection of human rights and freedoms, the resolution of conflicts and disputes by civilized means is the norm of a rule-of-law state. The court is called upon to be a defender of the right by stopping offenses.

The judiciary influences the legislative and executive. The legislative branch is controlled through the court system. Thus, with the help of the Constitutional Court in the country, the constitutionality of not only by-laws, but also the laws themselves is ensured.

The next aspect of the power structure that I want to dwell on in more detail is its resources. The main resources of societies include material objects and spiritual goods that are capable, firstly, of satisfying the needs and interests of people, representing a certain value social relations and, secondly, increase the potential of influence and the power of influence of government agents. According to a number of American political scientists, power is, first of all, the control and distribution of society's resources, and politics, accordingly, is the sphere of resource exchange or regulation of resource exchange.

Types of power:

-Traditional authority

To maintain traditional power, the familiar and long-standing existing forms public life.

  • - management costs are lower
  • -a sense of community among people
  • -weak receptivity to new things

Authority can acquire legitimacy through tradition. M. Weber characterizes such power as traditional power. In this case, one obeys because “it has always been this way.” Traditional domination takes place in patriarchal societies, organized like the family, where obedience to the father, the head of the clan, is a natural reaction to the political order.

-Rational - legal power.

The source of its legitimacy lies in the fact that it is based on a generally recognized legal order. People who have such power arrive at their position based on a legal procedure. For example, as a result of elections.

Economic power

In order for economic power to take place, some kind of wealth is necessary, which the object has, but the subject does not, and the subject needs this wealth.

Charismatic power

Charismatic power based on the exceptional properties possessed by the subject. The charismatic type of power can be considered the most unique. Firstly, it is based on belief in the supernatural holiness, heroism or some other dignity of the leader. Moreover, the authority of his personality extends to the institutions of power and contributes to their recognition and acceptance by the population. Unconditional support for a leader by the population often turns into Caesarism, leaderism and a cult of personality. Secondly, it is often built on the denial of everything that happened before, that is, it implies that the proposed version of domination is the best. A charismatic leader often comes to power in “ Time of Troubles“when there is no need to rely on the authority of traditions or laws, and the population is ready to support someone who promises a better future. It is precisely because of the very specifics of charismatic power that a number of problems arise with the transfer of power.

Mechanisms for the transfer of charismatic power:

  • -The leader himself appoints his successor. In this case people's love and trust is transferred to the “continuator of the business.”
  • -The charisma of the institution (“it is not the person who paints the place, but the place of the person”) allows the leader to become one by taking the position of head of state (US President). Also widespread is the charisma of an organization, which implies unconditional support by the population of all members of a particular organization (CPSU, CPC, etc.).
  • -Family charisma is a very rare variant of the transfer of power. In this case, the state is governed by members of one clan or dynasty. In the modern world, this practice exists mainly in eastern countries. Most shining example-- the rule of the Gandhi family in India.

If none of the listed mechanisms for transferring power works, a struggle for power begins within the elite.

  • - management efficiency (especially during a crisis),
  • - practical lack of accountability and lack of control.

The authority of the bearer of charismatic power is the authority of some unusual personal gift - charisma. M. Weber notes that charisma should be called a personality quality that is recognized as extraordinary. Thanks to this quality, she is assessed by others as gifted with supernatural or, at least, specific special forces and properties that are not available to other people. Such a person is considered as if sent by God. IN Russian history we can easily find examples of charismatic authority. This is the authority of such Bolshevik leaders as Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, etc.

Phobocracy(lat. " The power of fear") is an extreme version of military power, based on unquestioning discipline and unity of action.

Authoritarian social relationships mean the division of society into (few) giving orders and (many) taking these orders, depriving the individuals involved in this process (intellectually, emotionally and physically) and society as a whole. Human relationships in all areas of life are marked by power, not freedom. And since freedom can only be created by freedom, authoritarian social relations (and the obedience they require) do not (and cannot educate) the individual in freedom - only participation (self-government) in all areas of life can do this.

It should be borne in mind that in real political life it is hardly possible to find any “pure” types associated with only one of the forms of legitimacy. In reality, we can only talk about the dominance of one form of legality and a certain structure of marginal or secondary forms associated with various kinds of sociocultural traditions and influences.

Everyone knows the purpose of government. However, not everyone knows exactly how it functions. What are the most optimal ones for society? Let's try to figure it all out in our article.

What is power?

Power existed at all stages of human development. Even in the primitive communal system, relations of leadership and subordination were formed. This type of interaction expressed people's needs for organization and self-regulation. At the same time, power is not only a mechanism for regulating society, but also a guarantor of the integrity of a certain group of people.

What is the main feature of political power? Thinkers of different times had their own opinions on this matter. For example, he spoke about the desire to achieve good in the future. was more pessimistic, and therefore found in power the desire to subjugate his own kind. Bertrand Russell defined the relationship of leadership and subordination as the production of intended results. However, all scientists agree on one thing: power has a natural character.

Objects and subjects

The question of what is the main feature of political power cannot be considered without defining the main components of the concept. It is known that any power is a relationship between domination and submission. Both types of relations are realized by subjects of political power: social communities and the state itself. The people influence the government only indirectly. This happens through elections. Only in rare cases can “grassroots” institutions be created that take all power into their own hands.

The state implements most political powers. The apparatus of power includes ruling parties, the bureaucratic elite, pressure groups and other institutions. The nature and strength of government functions depend on the regime of political power. Historical eras were characterized by different regimes. Each of them should be disassembled.

Types of power

A political regime is a type of government, a set of methods, forms and techniques for implementing domination and subordination. Today, in most countries, democracy reigns - a regime in which the people are recognized as the source of power. Ordinary people indirectly participate in the exercise of government power. Through voting, state power is formed, which works in harmony with the people.

The opposite of democracy is authoritarianism. This is a regime in which all state power is in the hands of one person or group of persons. The people do not take any part in government affairs. Russian Empire XVIII-XX centuries could well be called an authoritarian state.

A tougher form of an authoritarian regime is called totalitarianism. The state not only completely subjugates the people, but also interferes in all spheres of public life. There is complete control by the authorities over each person. History knows many examples of political power of a totalitarian nature. This is Hitler's Germany, Stalin's USSR, modern North Korea etc.

Complete anarchy and the absence of a political regime are characteristic of anarchy. An anarchic system is established after revolutions, wars or other social upheavals. As a rule, such a system does not prevail for long.

Functions

What is the main feature of political power? Having examined the main state regimes, we can say with confidence: this is the construction of relations of domination and subordination. Such relationships manifest themselves in different ways and may have different goals. However, the principle of power is always the same: the subordination of one group of people to another.

Power, whatever it may be, has approximately the same functions. First and main feature the state is that it has the authority to govern. With its help, the authorities implement their plans. The next function is called control and supervisory. The authorities monitor the quality of their governance, as well as ensure that no one violates its rules. To implement the control function, law enforcement agencies are created. The third function is organizational. The authorities form relationships with citizens and public organizations to achieve mutual understanding. Finally, the last function is called educational. The authorities earn their authority by forcing citizens to be obedient.

Legitimacy of power

Any power must be legal. Moreover, it must be recognized by the people. Otherwise, conflicts, revolutions and even wars are possible. History contains many examples of political power that was destroyed by the people due to lack of recognition and compromise.

How does power become legitimate? Everything is simple here. The people themselves must give powers to the persons to whom they will subsequently obey. If a person or group of people seizes power not by the will of the people, then a disaster will happen.

So, what are the characteristics of political power? This is the presence of a clear structure, management apparatus, legitimacy and legality. Any government should serve only for the benefit of the people.

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