home » Autumn clothes » Public organizations and movements. Socio-political organizations and movements

Public organizations and movements. Socio-political organizations and movements

Test

in the discipline Political Science

“Socio-political organizations and

movement"

Introduction

Public organizations and movements are non-state entities, and movements are non-state entities that unite people according to their interests and professions. They have rich history. Already in the ancient world, along with the state, there were associations of representatives, as a rule, of the propertied classes and free citizens. They also took place in the medieval period of human history. These associations were most often based on religious ideas (knightly associations, orders of crusaders, and so on).

The purpose of this test work on the topic “Socio-political organizations and movements” is to reveal the meaning of the ideas of organizations and movements, their role in the life of civil society as a whole.

To do this, it is necessary to solve several problems, namely:

1. Describe the significance of socio-political organizations and movements.

2. Characterize the types of socio-political movements.

3. Consider the reasons for the emergence of socio-political organizations and movements.

Political parties, being the center of the political life of society, do not cover with their activities the entire diversity of socio-political processes. The activities of political parties seem to continue in the activities of numerous public organizations and mass social movements.

1. Socio-political organization and socio-political movement: general and specific

Social movements and organizations differ in many ways: in their goals, the functions they perform in relation to the interests of their members, as well as in relation to state power; at the place of activity; by types and methods of activity; by the nature of occurrence, by methods of organization, and so on.

“For example, according to the criterion of purpose, there are socio-political movements and organizations that are revolutionary and counter-revolutionary, reformist and conservative, national democratic, general democratic, environmental. By areas of activity: economic, social, national, international, religious, scientific, educational and others. By place of activity: local, regional, national, international, operating in parliament (functions and other associations of deputies), within management structures, in the system of educational and scientific institutions, in the religious environment. By the nature of occurrence: spontaneous and consciously organized; by method of organization: clubs, associations, associations, unions, fronts; by social composition: youth, women, professional.”

No matter how diverse social movements and organizations are, all of them are one way or another called upon to perform two main tasks: a) expression and implementation of group interests; b) ensuring the participation of members of a particular group or community in the management of public affairs and self-government, and therefore, in the implementation of the principles of democracy (democracy). Hence the underlying causes social movements and organizations: dissatisfaction of group needs and interests through the activities of government institutions and political parties, the presence of economic and socio-cultural problems that cannot be solved by the structures of power and management.

The presence of diverse social needs and interests does not in itself lead to the emergence of social movements and organizations. The factor of interests is triggered precisely when: “... firstly, the state of unsatisfactory interests is fixed in the public consciousness; secondly, certain ideas are emerging in the mass consciousness about the content of group interests and ways to satisfy them; thirdly, there is a growing need among a significant part of various groups and segments of the people to participate in the adoption of social political decisions related to the implementation of interests; finally, fourthly, in the presence of appropriate democratic structures in the political system. In general, social and socio-political movements and organizations arise on the basis of social group interests, subject to the development of self-awareness of certain social groups, realized in social activity related to the satisfaction of these interests.”

In difficult, difficult times, people, imbued with ideological contradictions, first group into protest movements and organizations, then popular fronts, associations, mass movements begin to exist, and within systemic state, party, trade union and youth structures: independent trade union organizations, strike committees, various groups of deputies. Subsequently, there is an integration of movements and organizations formed both outside and inside the political system. Movements such as “Democratic Russia”, “United Front of Workers” and others are taking shape.

Habermas Jurgen, famous German philosopher, sociologist and political thinker. In his works he paid great attention to social science and attached no less importance to language. He reduced the problem of socio-political practice to the problem of mutual understanding, language political power, parties, social groups and so on. In his ideas or other concepts, there is a socio-political orientation. Habermas Jurgen also attached great importance to the ideological and political superstructure. He tried to find out on what principles the action of domination, abstractly represented as the relationship between master and slave, is based. Superimposing this scheme on the entire problematic public life, with its help he tried to explain the mechanisms that should ensure the preservation and stability of society.

“the main problem, in his opinion, is that the distribution of surplus product rests on the privileged assimilation of socially produced wealth by the ruling strata of society. At the same time, unequal distribution must have a “legalized” appearance and be recorded in the system of legal norms. As soon as faith in the legitimacy of the existing order decreases for some reason, a force latently hidden in the system of institutions is released, which can lead to sharp social disagreements, conflicts, and crises. To avoid such developments, it is necessary to establish an order that must be based on an appropriate distribution of power.”

In the 1980s, Habermas Jürgen developed ideas about instrumental and communicative action in his two-volume Theory of Communicative Action. “By communicative action, Habermas understands the influence of individuals, which is ordered according to norms accepted as mandatory. If instrumental action is focused on success, then communicative action is aimed at mutual understanding of the acting individuals, their consensus. It involves coordination of efforts.” Also, according to his ideas, communicative action is a means of social interaction and serves to form solidarity. Throughout Habermas's theoretical activity, all such topics intersected with each other and became parts of the large-scale theory of communicative action that he created and constantly improved.

In general, the concept of “socio-political movements” covers various associations of citizens, associations, unions, fronts that are not directly included in state and party structures, but are to one degree or another subjects of political life, combining to varying degrees the functions of cooperation and opposition and criticism, opposition and struggle towards state institutions and political parties. This concept covers a wide range of associations - from those that directly influence the adoption of political decisions, characterized by a high level of organization and structure, to purely political ones that do not have a clear organized core. This diversity poses a certain difficulty in typologizing movements, analyzing the reasons for their emergence, ideological and political position, social base, and relationships with authorities. At the same time, we can highlight the most general signs socio-political movements, distinguishing them from parties.

The ideological and political orientation of the movements is much broader and more vague, and the goals are much narrower and more specific than those of the parties. This allows people with different political views to participate in the movement, but who support the specific political goal for which the movement is created and acts. This determines the ability of movements to acquire a large scope.

Movements, as a rule, do not have a unified program or charter. They differ in the inconsistency of the number of participants. Movements usually do not have a strong center, a unified structure, or discipline. The core of movements can be either independent initiative groups or committees or commissions created by parties. They rely on the unorganized masses and can also be supported by various public organizations and autonomous associations of some parties. In general, the basis of movements is the solidarity and voluntariness of their participants.

Socio-political movements strive to influence power, but, as a rule, they themselves do not achieve power.

There are many types of socio-political movements:

From the point of view of attitude towards the existing system movements are conservative, reformist and revolutionary;

By ideological basis - liberal-democratic, conservative, socialist;

By nationality– national liberation, for the self-determination of the nation, cultural and national autonomy, etc.;

By demographics – youth, students, etc.;

By scale - international, regional, country, state, republic;

According to methods and methods of action - legal, illegal, formal, informal, oriented towards peaceful or violent actions.

Socio-political movements perform important functions:

They condense the interests and sentiments of wide heterogeneous sections of the population:

They set goals and develop ways to achieve them;

They create a large political force focused on solving a specific political problem;

They lead mass protests, organize non-violent and sometimes violent protests.

The second half and especially the end of the 20th century are characterized by the growth and strengthening of the role of socio-political movements, which indicates the involvement of a huge number of people in politics.

There are various options for the relationship between socio-political movements and parties.

Independent socio-political movements do not enter into any relations with parties. This happens when participants in movements, having a certain political interest, at the same time, they are not satisfied with the activities of the parties. Many movement participants do not want to associate themselves with party affiliation at all.

The creation of some movements is initiated by a party or a bloc of parties with the aim of involving the broad masses of non-party people in the struggle for the put forward political task.

Parties can take control, the leader of movements (for example, behind spontaneous mass protests, the social environment of which is the least socially protected layers, there can be parties adhering to a strategy of destabilization social system).

What caused the changes in the arrangement political forces in the opposition camp and increased confrontation in society. 2. Party-political system at the end of 1991-1993. The center of gravity in the political confrontation has shifted from the struggle against the CPSU to the question of choosing a specific model for the modernization of Russian society. The political opposition, even in the new conditions, continued to represent a very...

Such bodies that are called upon to protect the legal system operating in society - the police, the court, the prosecutor's office, the bar, etc., functioning in the interests of all members of society. Among the various elements of the political system, the state also stands out in that it has an extensive system of legal means that give it the opportunity to manage many sectors of the economy and...

A significant role in social and political life, along with political parties and trade unions, is played by public organizations and movements. Unlike parties, they do not claim to be directly involved in the exercise of power and do not undertake associated obligations. However, by realizing their specific tasks and functions, public organizations and movements solve the problems of a broad public importance, make a significant contribution to state, economic, social and cultural construction. The formation of an extensive system of public organizations and movements is an indicator of the development of civil society, evidence of the diversity and structure of its interests.

Socio-political organizations are voluntary associations of citizens that arise on their initiative and to realize their interests.

Main characteristic features public organizations are the following:

Public organizations do not have power relations and cannot make binding decisions and demand their implementation.

Unlike political parties, they do not aim to seize state power, but their activities can acquire a political character.

These are voluntary organizations of citizens that arose on their initiative.

The state does not interfere in their activities, but regulates them in accordance with current legislation.

Social and political associations operate on the basis of the following principles:

Voluntariness;

Combination of personal and public interests;

Self management;

Equality of participants;

Legality;

Publicity.

Socio-political movements are associations, coalitions, alliances of various social groups for joint solution of problems that interest them.

Social movement:

May not be structurally formalized;

Can unite organizations of different political orientations;

As a rule, it is temporary in nature (to solve certain problems).

The following stages are distinguished in the development of a social movement:

First stage:

The emergence of ideas;

The emergence of activists;

Developing common views.

Second stage:

Propaganda of views;

Agitation;

Attracting supporters.

Third stage:

Clearer formation of ideas and requirements;

Development of socio-political activity;

Formation into a socio-political organization or party and participation in political life and the struggle for power;

If goals are achieved or there are no prospects for achieving them, the movement fades.

Socio-political movements can be divided into:

National (within one country);

Regional;

Continental;

Worldwide.

The most active socio-political and democratic movements are the following:

1. Women's movement.

This movement unites women of different ages, nationalities, professions, and social classes. The main goal of the women's movement is to protect women's rights.

The women's movement is heterogeneous. The liberal-reformist (moderate) wing of the movement advocates reforms in favor of women and a restructuring of public consciousness in relation to the “weaker sex”.

The radical extremist movement focuses on issues of marriage, family, sexual relations. They consider the eternal “male chauvinism” to be the root cause of all women’s evils. In their opinion, women's liberation is possible through the destruction of all institutions that were created by male oppressors: the state, army, party, church, trade unions, etc.

The first demand of the feminist revolution is the demand for the destruction of the family and the introduction of sexual freedom.

2. Anti-war movement.

Unites in its ranks millions of representatives of almost all segments of the population. the main objective- eliminating the threat of war.

3. Environmental movement

This is a movement in defense environment.

The Greens are:

For improving legislation in favor of nature conservation;

For the use of non-traditional and renewable energy sources;

For the closure of hazardous industries;

Against various forms of environmental pollution.

The main goal of the environmental movement is to prevent a global environmental crisis.

4. Human rights movement

Unites organizations fighting against infringements of individual rights.

5. Youth movement

He advocates for the rights of young people, actively participates in the struggle for peace against war, carries out actions to protect the environment, etc.

6. National movement

Gaining strength in last years. Participants in this movement put forward demands for the revival of national culture, language, traditions, etc.

In addition, there are:

Non-Aligned Movement;

Movement against racial and national discrimination;

Movement for the establishment of a new economic order;

Peasant movement for land and social rights;

Pacifist movements of scientists, doctors, lawyers and other movements.

Thus, the political life of society is rich and diverse. Important role it belongs to parties and socio-political movements and organizations.

The typology of social movements can be carried out on various grounds. According to the goals and areas of activity, they distinguish anti-war, environmental, women's, youth movements, the movement for racial and national equality, the consumer protection movement, religious movements and many others.

In relation to the existing system, social movements are divided into revolutionary, counter-revolutionary, reformist, conservative, reactionary, and according to methods and methods of action - into violent and non-violent.

Social movements can be formed in different social basis. Some of them, for example, anti-war, environmental, national liberation movements, are interclass (non-class) in nature. Others have a pronounced social class character - workers, peasants, bourgeois movements, as well as movements of the intelligentsia, farmers, and small owners. Social movements can also be grouped along gender and age lines - youth, children's, women's movements, pensioners' movements, etc. Movements of scientists, doctors, writers, etc. are created along professional lines.

The division of voluntary associations into public organizations and movements is largely conditional, and it is not always easy to differentiate between them. Social movements, as organizational principles strengthen, often become the basis for the formation of public organizations and even political parties. Thus, the development of the environmental movement led to the creation of various kinds of environmental unions and associations, and then “green” parties in many countries. Popular movements and fronts in a number of former USSR republics evolved and formed into national democratic parties.

As stated above, public organizations and movements do not set as their goal the conquest and exercise of political power and do not seek open control over it. They engage in political activity only insofar as it is necessary to perform tasks that lie in another sphere of public life (economic, social, cultural). But although public organizations and movements do not set themselves directly political goals, their activities are objectively political in nature. The very fact that citizens enjoy the constitutional right of association includes them in the orbit of political action.

The degree of influence of various social formations on political relations is different. Some of them - labor, trade union, national movements, etc. - have a significant impact on the political situation, while others practically do not participate in political life. However, in modern conditions of general politicization of society, none of public associations cannot completely withdraw from direct or indirect participation in the political process. The political role of public organizations and movements is to influence the process of making political decisions by public authorities and management at various levels, in more or less constant pressure on power structures.

Public organizations and movements act as unique interest groups and pressure groups. The concept of interest groups or interest groups was developed by American political scientists A. Bentley, D. Truman and others and has long been recognized in Western political science. According to A. Bentley, politics is a process of interaction and struggle of people organized in certain groups to achieve their goals and interests. Interest groups are “voluntary organizations created to express and represent the interests of their members in relationships both with other groups and political institutions, and within the organizations themselves.”

In group competition, a significant part of organized interests receive satisfaction through the channels of civil society. But in a number of cases, the implementation of the collective needs of group members requires authoritative decisions. If an interest group seeks to satisfy its own interests through targeted influence on institutions public authority, then it is characterized as a pressure group. The concept of “pressure group” reveals the dynamics of the transformation of social group interests that arise in civil society into a political factor. The effectiveness of a pressure group largely depends on the resources they have (property, information, qualifications and experience, cultural influence, ethnic and religious ties, etc.). Trade unions, associations of entrepreneurs, unions of cooperators, consumers, voluntary societies and other public associations (except political parties) are a type of interest groups.

Functions of public organizations and movements

Identification of the functions of public organizations and movements is of great theoretical and practical importance, since this helps to understand their place in the system of civil society and the rule of law, as well as to show the forms and methods of manifestation of their activity.

The main functions common to all public organizations and movements include:

1. Identifying and satisfying the interests and needs of members of the association. People unite in organizations and movements in order to satisfy certain specific needs related to professional affiliation, age characteristics, individual inclinations, etc. These interests may initially appear in a very vague, personal and emotionally charged form. Public organizations and movements transform such vague views and opinions into clear demands and programs of a given association, thereby contributing to the articulation of the interests of their members. Along with political parties, public organizations and movements solve, to a certain extent, the problem of aggregating interests, i.e. coordination through discussions of many particular requirements and the establishment of a certain hierarchy and priorities between them. This function of public organizations and movements acquires particular importance in conditions of an undeveloped party system.

2. The function of social integration and mobilization involves the unification and organization of group members and their supporters around the goals of this formation. This function may also have a broader context that goes beyond the framework of a specific public association. Public organizations and movements attract public attention to acute problems, put forward their solutions, seek public support for their endeavors.

3. Socialization function. By involving their members in solving socially significant problems, public organizations and movements contribute to the formation of their active life position, increasing political education and culture, and involving citizens in the management of state and public affairs.

4. Representative function or representation function and protection of the interests of its members in relations with other political institutions. Public organizations and movements not only contribute to the awareness and expression of the specific interests and needs of their members, but also undertake the obligation to represent these interests and bring the group’s demands to the attention of government bodies, political parties, and ruling elites.

The influence of public associations on power structures can be carried out in two ways: through electoral representation (through electoral systems), direct, functional representation of organized interests. The main forms and methods of pressure from public organizations and movements on government bodies are the following:

Direct nomination of their candidates to the representative and executive bodies authorities;

Support, including financial;

In elections of close political parties and their candidates;

Participation in the development and preparation of legislative and other regulations;

Participation in the work of parliamentary commissions, interdepartmental committees, advisory and consultative bodies, expert groups under various government bodies;

Organization of propaganda campaigns in media mass media, collection of signatures for relevant requirements;

Strikes, rallies, demonstrations, etc.

Particular attention should be paid to such a form of representation and protection of group interests as lobbying, or lobbying (from the English lobby - sidelines, corridors). Lobbying in the broad sense of the word refers to any legal means of influencing (pressure) on the state in order to protect special interests.

In a narrower sense of the word, lobbying means the direct interaction of a representative of an interest group with a decision maker, both through formalized channels and structures, and informal connections (meetings, conversations, consultations, telephone conversations, personal appeals). The task of lobbyists is to achieve the adoption of legislative and regulatory acts desired by the group, to obtain government subsidies, loans, etc., penetrating for this purpose into the institutions of government.

In Western countries, a wide network of specialized lobbying services has developed - law firms, consulting bureaus, public relations agencies that provide intermediary services in establishing contacts between interest groups and government bodies. In the USA and some European countries Lobbying activities are regulated by law and are under financial control. However, the very nature of lobbying as a political phenomenon excludes the possibility of its complete control. Therefore, in the practice of lobbying, cases of corruption, abuse, and the use of dubious and sometimes illegal methods of influence (blackmail, bribery, threats, bribes) cannot be excluded.

5. Another function of public organizations and movements is the function of modeling new socio-political structures, searching and testing non-traditional forms of social connections. Voluntary associations, due to their public, amateur nature, act as an indispensable channel for conducting social experiments, searching for and implementing new self-governing forms of social activity of the population.

Social movements

Turning points in social development are characterized, as a rule, by an intense “surge” of amateur activity of the masses. Thus, in the 70s in Western countries, old traditional associations were replaced by diverse new social movements. Their emergence was due to the aggravation of global problems of our time, the entry Western countries into a new stage of scientific and technological revolution, changes in mass consciousness, in the value orientations of society, a crisis of confidence in government structures and traditional political institutions. Old traditional voluntary associations (trade unions, youth, women's, etc.), being integrated into the political system, were not ready to adapt to new realities. This is largely due to the formalization of their activities, the bureaucracy of management structures, and the separation of the apparatus from the ordinary masses.

New social movements are democratic protest movements with a broad social base, mass appeal, new issues and demands. The backbone of the new social movements consisted of environmental, anti-war, neofeminist movements, movements in defense civil rights etc. Despite the diverse social composition, the mosaic nature of the concepts, the participants in these movements are united by a critical attitude towards many realities modern society, the desire to find original solutions to global and some other pressing problems.

A feature of new social movements was the search for new forms, style, way of life, diversity and unusual forms and methods of social protest. The so-called alternative movements, aimed at breaking with traditional forms socio-political life and the approval of new models of social development. For this purpose, unique types of cooperatives, agricultural communes, housing communities, alternative enterprises, schools, clinics, etc. are created. On by example they strive to realize new system humanistic, post-materialistic values. Close to alternative movements are civil initiatives - a form of local, spontaneous collective self-organization of citizens to protect their interests and mutual assistance from government decisions that infringe on them. Civil initiatives are fighting to satisfy any specific demands and implement certain projects in the fields of housing, education and upbringing, transport, urban development, culture, and ecology.

As for the countries of so-called “real socialism,” there formally existed a wide network of public associations, covering a significant part of the population. But in fact, public organizations and movements played the role of an appendage of the state machine, a transmission belt from the Communist Party to the masses and did not have a truly social, amateur character. As society democratizes and political systems transform in the USSR (CIS) and countries of Eastern Europe Significant changes are taking place in the system of public associations. The growth of political activity of citizens found its expression not so much in the renewal of existing public structures, how much in the creation of new independent organizations and movements. The second half of the 80s was marked by the creation of many informal social formations - non-traditional, alternative organizations and movements that acted outside the framework of official structures, relying only on the initiative of the citizens themselves and without pretending to official status. Their activities initially were mainly local, cultural, educational, and environmental in nature. But gradually there is a politicization of the informal movement, its connection with widespread popular uprisings. Especially important there was the development of labor, environmental and other movements. In many cases, informal groups and formations have become the prototype of new public organizations and even political
cue parties.

The legal institutionalization of political parties and other public associations indicates their recognition by the state as a special political and legal institution that occupies an important place in the political system of society.

Socio-political organizations and movements are voluntary formations that arose as a result of the free expression of the will of citizens united on the basis of common interests and goals.

Parties are also included in this group, but they stand out strongly. Only they set a clear goal of achieving power, using power. Only parties have a rigid structure and a clear scheme for achieving power. Other public organizations are less politicized.

Unlike parties, these movements and organizations they don't put it The goal is to seize state power. The number of socio-political organizations and movements greatly exceeds the number of parties.

Typology of socio-political organizations and movements

By field of activity:

1_RSPP - Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs

2_trade unions

3_sports unions

4_creative unions and associations

5_human rights organizations

6_ecological movements, etc.

By degree and form of organization:

1_natural

2_poorly organized

3_s high degree organizations

By lifetime:

1_short-term

2_long-term

Polish sociologist and political scientist Evgeniy Vyatr believes that almost all socio-political organizations and movements go through a number of stages in their development:

1_Creating the prerequisites for movement. Real problems and contradictions become the basis for discussion and the emergence of active individuals offering solutions to these problems. A common vision of the problem is developed.

2_Development of ideological and organizational foundations. The movement forms a clear position, creates a program, holds organizational congresses or speeches by movement leaders in the press or television.

3_Stage of agitation. For any organization, mass participation is the key to success.

4_Extended stage political activity. The work of the party itself begins. This stage depends on the goals set. If the goals are achievable, the stage may not last long; if the goals are unattainable or difficult to achieve, the stage may last for a very long time.

5_Motion decay stage. A movement or organization may cease to exist when the stated goal is fulfilled or turns out to be false/unattainable; under pressure from the authorities; when there is no means to continue the fight, etc.

IN Lately(20-30 years) in many countries of the world, the so-called alternative movements (AM) are most widespread. These are new social movements seeking to find original solutions to global and some other pressing problems: distribution nuclear weapons, resources, ecology, war and peace, quality of life. The leaders of these movements claim that the old political structures are ineffective and unable to solve global problems.

These movements are unpopular in Russia and popular in Europe. Alternative movements involve people who, as a rule, do not have economic difficulties. Age - from 18 to 35 years old, city dwellers, representatives of the middle class, schoolchildren and students. The level of education is high.

The most active and organized alternative movements:

1_Environmental (Greenpeace, World Wide Fund wildlife and etc.).

2_Anti-war and anti-nuclear.

3_Civil rights movement.

4_Organizations of supporters of alternative lifestyles.

5_Feminist.

6_Movement of pensioners.

7_Consumer.

Subsidiary movements can be extremist, for example, the environmental movement Peta.

BIG LENINGRAD LIBRARY - ABSTRACTS - Socio-political organizations and movements

Socio-political organizations and movements

TOtest work

in the discipline Political Science

“Socio-political organizations and

movement"

Introduction

Public organizations and movements are non-state entities, and movements are non-state entities that unite people according to their interests and professions. They have a rich history. Already in the ancient world, along with the state, there were associations of representatives, as a rule, of the propertied classes and free citizens. They also took place in the medieval period of human history. These associations were most often based on religious ideas (knightly associations, orders of crusaders, and so on).

The purpose of this test on the topic “Socio-political organizations and movements” is to reveal the meaning of the ideas of organizations and movements, their role in the life of civil society as a whole.

To do this, it is necessary to solve several problems, namely:

1. Describe the significance of socio-political organizations and movements.

2. Characterize the types of socio-political movements.

3. Consider the reasons for the emergence of socio-political organizations and movements.

1. Socio-political organization and socio-political movement: general and specific

No matter how diverse social movements and organizations are, all of them are one way or another called upon to perform two main tasks: a) expression and implementation of group interests; b) ensuring the participation of members of a particular group or community in the management of public affairs and self-government, and therefore, in the implementation of the principles of democracy (democracy). Hence the underlying reasons for the emergence of social movements and organizations: dissatisfaction of group needs and interests through the activities of institutions of state power and political parties, the presence of economic and socio-cultural problems that cannot be solved by the structures of power and management.

The presence of diverse social needs and interests does not in itself lead to the emergence of social movements and organizations. The factor of interests is triggered precisely when: “... firstly, the state of unsatisfactory interests is fixed in the public consciousness; secondly, certain ideas are emerging in the mass consciousness about the content of group interests and ways to satisfy them; thirdly, there is a growing need among a significant part of various groups and segments of the people to participate in making socio-political decisions related to the implementation of interests; finally, fourthly, in the presence of appropriate democratic structures in the political system. In general, social and socio-political movements and organizations arise on the basis of social group interests, subject to the development of self-awareness of certain social groups, realized in social activity related to the satisfaction of these interests” Zerkin D.P. Fundamentals of political science: Course of lectures. Rostov n/d: “Phoenix”, 1997, P. 303.

Habermas Jurgen, famous German philosopher, sociologist and political thinker. In his works he paid great attention to social science and attached no less importance to language. He reduced the problem of socio-political practice to the problem of mutual understanding, the language of political power, party, social groups, and so on. In his ideas or other concepts, there is a socio-political orientation. Habermas Jurgen also attached great importance to the ideological and political superstructure. He tried to find out on what principles the action of domination, abstractly represented as the relationship between master and slave, is based. Imposing this scheme on the entire problematic of social life, he used it to try to explain the mechanisms that should ensure the preservation and stability of society.

“The main problem, in his opinion, is that the distribution of surplus product rests on the privileged assimilation of socially produced wealth by the ruling strata of society. At the same time, unequal distribution must have a “legalized” appearance and be recorded in the system of legal norms. As soon as faith in the legitimacy of the existing order decreases for some reason, a force latently hidden in the system of institutions is released, which can lead to sharp social disagreements, conflicts, and crises. To avoid such a development of events, it is necessary to establish an order that should be based on an appropriate distribution of power” Political Encyclopedia. In 2 vols. T2/National. Society - scientific foundation; Hand. project G.Yu. Semigin; scientific-editor's council: prev. Council G.Yu. Semigin. - M.: Mysl, 1999, S. 575..

In the 1980s, Habermas Jürgen developed ideas about instrumental and communicative action in his two-volume Theory of Communicative Action. “By communicative action, Habermas understands the influence of individuals, which is ordered according to norms accepted as mandatory. If instrumental action is focused on success, then communicative action is aimed at mutual understanding of the acting individuals, their consensus. It involves coordination of efforts”Political Encyclopedia. In 2 vols. T2/National. Society - scientific foundation; Hand. project G.Yu. Semigin; scientific-editor's council: prev. Council G.Yu. Semigin. - M.: Mysl, 1999, P. 575.

Also, according to his ideas, communicative action is a means of social interaction and serves to form solidarity. Throughout Habermas's theoretical activity, all such topics intersected with each other and became parts of the large-scale theory of communicative action that he created and constantly improved.

In general, the concept of “socio-political movements” covers various associations of citizens, associations, unions, fronts that are not directly included in state and party structures, but are to one degree or another subjects of political life, combining to varying degrees the functions of cooperation and opposition and criticism, opposition and struggle towards state institutions and political parties. This concept covers a wide range of associations - from those that directly influence the adoption of political decisions, characterized by a high level of organization and structure, to purely political ones that do not have a clear organized core. This diversity poses a certain difficulty in typologizing movements, analyzing the reasons for their emergence, ideological and political position, social base, and relationships with authorities. At the same time, we can identify the most general characteristics of socio-political movements that distinguish them from parties.

Socio-political movements strive to influence power, but, as a rule, they themselves do not achieve power.

There are many types of socio-political movements:

From the point of view of attitude towards the existing system, movements are conservative, reformist and revolutionary;

On the ideological basis - liberal-democratic, conservative, socialist;

On a national basis - national liberation, for the self-determination of the nation, cultural and national autonomy, etc.;

By demographics - youth, students, etc.;

By scale - international, regional, country, state, republic;

According to methods and methods of action - legal, illegal, formal, informal, oriented towards peaceful or violent actions.

Socio-political movements perform important functions:

They condense the interests and sentiments of wide heterogeneous sections of the population:

They set goals and develop ways to achieve them;

They create a large political force focused on solving a specific political problem;

They lead mass protests, organize non-violent and sometimes violent protests.

There are various options for the relationship between socio-political movements and parties.

Independent socio-political movements do not enter into any relations with parties. This happens when participants in movements, having a certain political interest, are at the same time not satisfied with the activities of the parties. Many movement participants do not want to associate themselves with party affiliation at all.

The creation of some movements is initiated by a party or a bloc of parties with the aim of involving the broad masses of non-party people in the struggle for the put forward political task.

Parties can take control of movements (for example, behind spontaneous mass protests, the social environment of which is the least socially protected strata, there may be parties adhering to the strategy of destabilizing the social system).

2. Traditional and new types of socio-political movements and organizations. Their dynamics

Having achieved success in solving their problems, political movements usually cease to exist (this happened, for example, with the movement against the placement of cruise missiles in Europe and others), but in a number of cases, when the tasks put forward are too complex, their solution requires long-term efforts, access to the levers of power, political movements acquire the characteristics of a party and are transformed into it (this, for example, happened with the “green” movement). Thus, socio-political movements can be initial stage formation of a party, and, having become a party, they can retain the name of “movement”. However, this is not a necessary result of the evolution of movement. Political movements do not displace parties and do not turn into a stage of their formation.

There are several reasons why people are interested in social movements and organizations. Firstly, in recent years, and perhaps even in recent decades, political parties are increasingly losing their authority among the broad masses of the people and especially among young people. People sometimes get tired of doxology and political games party leaders who often use the trust of ordinary party members for their own personal interests - to get to power at any cost. People from the outside see this and do not want to join this or that party, do not want to be a bargaining chip in political games.

In addition, membership in a political party requires discipline and requires voting in elections only for the candidate of one’s own party. People, and especially young people, prefer the broad democracy of public organizations and their true self-government. A person can freely move from one organization to another, participate in any mass movement, without tying his hands to any of them.

Secondly, mass public organizations and movements attract numerous supporters into their ranks by the fact that they do not strictly adhere to any ideological concept in their activities. Ideology is the destiny of a political party. And people often do not see the benefit of any ideology. Their main contents are political problems, issues of power, and not the material interests of ordinary people, their everyday needs.

Today, mass movements and organizations are characterized by the desire to go beyond existing ideological systems and to rethink the realities modern world, put forward alternative ideas and concepts that adequately reflect the vital problems of our time.

Look for alternative development paths modern civilization forced by the current reality itself, which, according to many prominent scientists - both social scientists and natural scientists - is leading increasingly to a dead end, to a universal catastrophe: thermonuclear, environmental, food. Awareness of this expands the circle of participants in alternative movements.

Thirdly, the growing interest of the broad masses in social movements and organizations is also due to the fact that these movements quickly grasp the novelty of the social situation, respond more quickly to changing situations, and more fully take into account the everyday, immediate needs of the people in their demands. Political parties are to a certain extent bound by party ideology, which cannot change quickly; it remains stable over a relatively long period of time.

Socio-political movements and organizations, depending on their connection with the political system, can be institutionalized (formal) and non-institutionalized (informal). The first, so to speak, are recognized by the political system as its constituent element and function in accordance with a set of formal rules. The latter arise and act outside the system, according to rules not prescribed by it. These are the so-called informal organizations. However, in socio-political life everything is subject to dynamics. Mutual transformations of public organizations are also possible. Some informal movements and organizations are turning into formal and even political parties. This is the dialectic of many informal organizations in the former USSR.

“United Nations (UN) - international organization sovereign states, created in 1945 at a conference in San Francisco on the initiative of the leading state participants in the anti-Hitler coalition on the basis of a voluntary combination of their efforts. The UN was born as a result of the great victory over fascism. The foundations of its activities and structure were developed during the 2nd World War (1939-1945)” Political Encyclopedia. In 2 vols. T2/National. Society - scientific foundation; Hand. project G.Yu. Semigin; scientific-editor's council: prev. Council G.Yu. Semigin. - M.: Mysl, 1999, P. 86.

In general, the activities of the UN are aimed at peaceful coexistence, at peaceful relations between states, to be more precise, there is a UN Charter, the goals of which are: maintaining international peace and security, preventing and eliminating threats to peace and suppressing acts of aggression, settling or resolving international disputes or situations that may lead to a breach of peace; development of friendly relations between nations based on respect for the principle of equality and self-determination of peoples; implementation international cooperation in resolution international problems economic, cultural, and humanitarian character and fostering respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion; fulfilling the role of a center for coordinating the actions of states aimed at achieving these goals. The Charter also provides for the principles of international cooperation and enshrines such points as the conscientious resolution of disputes only by peaceful means.

3. Socio-political organizations and movements in Russia: history and modernity

Social organizations and movements received significant development in bourgeois society, especially with the entry into the historical arena of the working class - people freed from feudal serfdom and given freedom by law to unite in various public organizations. With the help of organized social movements of various directions, the working class achieved tangible results in the struggle to improve their living conditions, for social freedoms and political rights.

“National organizations and movements rose to a new level of development after the Second World War. They have become widespread. This was facilitated by the strengthening of the democratic trend in the socio-political life of peoples, the rise of the national-political life of peoples, the rise of the national liberation struggle, and especially the struggle for peace, against the threat of a new world war. Today, the scope of activities of public, non-governmental organizations and mass movements is such that they cover almost all aspects of the life of human society. They consist of hundreds of millions of people, they have a powerful influence on international relations, on the internal political processes of states” Vorobiev K.A. Political science: Textbook for universities.-2nd ed. Rev. And additional - M.: Academic Project, 2005. P. 286..

Due to the passage of time, the collapse of former ideals occurs, propaganda occurs, primarily through the media. People’s worldviews also change; views on the past can change sharply in the opposite direction, since everything in life is impermanent. There was a destruction of youth organizations, primarily the Komsomol. Despite all the shortcomings in the work of the Komsomol in Soviet time, it was an organization that united youth, defended their interests, and organized young men and women into useful and interesting activities. The creation of new socio-political organizations, the solution of local and local problems strengthen the sense of mutual understanding and contribute to the growth of the authority of organizations.

Public organizations are characterized by a system of connections and the similarity of interests of its members, a way of developing and making decisions to achieve common goals. In Russia there are movements such as: LDPR, led by one of the founders V.V. Zhirinovsky, “Yabloko” (G.A. Yavlinsky), etc.

Currently, the most popular movements are: the green movement, anti-globalization, anti-war, women's, democratic youth movement and others. All these movements are international. In each country there are many mass movements on a national scale, reflecting the specific situation developing in it. Many social movements and organizations have emerged in recent years in the territory of the former USSR, including in Russia.

Social and socio-political movements and organizations, unlike parties, are more popular in their social composition. They arise both from class and on a class-like and inter-class basis. So, if the labor movement is class, then the trade union movement is interclass.

Associations and organizations arise, as a rule, spontaneously in connection with the emergence of a specific interest among citizens and the need for its implementation. This is how they arise various organizations entrepreneurs, farmers' associations, charities and other organizations. Some part of these organizations may cease to exist when the corresponding need is satisfied. However, the overwhelming majority of them become permanently active, gaining strength and authority over time.

Conclusion

There is a growth and strengthening of the role of socio-political movements, which indicates the involvement of a huge number of people in politics. There are various options for the relationship between socio-political movements and parties, but independent socio-political movements do not enter into any relations with parties. This happens when participants in movements, having a certain political interest, are at the same time not satisfied with the activities of the parties. The creation of some movements is initiated by a party or a bloc of parties with the aim of involving the broad masses of non-party people in the struggle for the put forward political task.

People voluntarily unite in associations (associations, unions, organizations, centers, clubs, foundations, etc.), the associations that make up civil society reflect the widest range of economic, family, cultural, legal and many other values and interests of citizens. The specificity of all these associations that form civil society is that they are created not by the state, but by the citizens themselves. These associations exist autonomously from the state, but within the framework of existing laws in the state.

Thus, the activities of public organizations and movements are a real indicator of the process of establishing democratization of the political system, civil society, as well as the development of self-government.

Bibliography

1. Political science: Textbook for universities/Under. ed. M.A. Vasilika. - M.: Yurist, 1999.

2. Vorobyov K.A. Political science: Textbook for universities.-2nd ed. Rev. And additional - M.: Academic Project, 2005.

3. Zerkin D.P. Fundamentals of political science: Course of lectures. Rostov n/a: “Phoenix”, 1997.

4. Maltsev V.A. Fundamentals of Political Science: Textbook for Universities. - M.: ITRK RSPP, 1998.

5. Political science: Textbook/A.Yu. Melville [etc.]; M.: Moskovsky state institute International Relations (University) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, TK Welby, Prospekt Publishing House, 2004.

6. Political science: textbook for universities/Scientific editor A.A. Radugin.-2nd ed., revised. and additional - M.: Center, 2001.

7. Political encyclopedia. In 2 vols. T2/National. Society - scientific foundation; Hand. project G.Yu. Semigin; scientific-editor's council: prev. Council G.Yu. Semigin. - M.: Mysl, 1999.

Parties grow out of social movements and organizations that historically preceded them. Social movements and organizations form the social environment in which parties live and work. They (movements) complement the action of parties or prevent the spread of their influence on society, serve as the basis for the transformation of existing parties and the emergence of new ones.

It is known that in the countries of Eastern Europe in the recent past there were mass organizations and movements: the Fatherland Front in Bulgaria, the National Front in Czechoslovakia, the Patriotic Movement of National Revival in Poland, etc. Although they were more of an ostentatious nature, they had a certain political role fulfilled: they served as a means of public legitimation of the activities of the ruling communist and workers' parties. As the political crisis matured, these movements ceased to fulfill their function, enshrined in the party system, and disintegrated.

The new socio-political situation gave rise to other movements and organizations of a politicized nature. Such, say, as political forums, independent trade union associations such as the Polish “Solidarity” and others. They became the decisive factor in the political mobilization of broad sections of the population against the existing party systems.

Social movements are forms of unification of people that characterize their joint aspirations to achieve common goals. Having acquired certain structures, they develop into organizations.

Public organizations are extra-state forms of social relations that arise on the basis of group (special) interests. In terms of content, they are various shapes social activities of people related to the expression and protection of the interests of certain groups and segments of the population, including numerous groups. Trade unions, labor associations, youth unions, scientific societies and other professional and amateur associations are all examples of public organizations. The difference between organizations and movements is relative. Any mass organization functions as a social movement, for example, trade union, youth, women's. After all, movement is a certain form of organizing the social activities of various groups and segments of the population. The dynamics of the development of public organizations into socio-political ones is not complicated. If an organization is included in the political process, claiming to represent and protect the common interests of some social groups, it acquires socio-political status (formal or informal) and certain characteristics of a party, although it does not yet become a party in the full sense of this concept . This is, for example, the character of the Polish trade union association Solidarity.

Among the public organizations associated in their professional activity with politics, but not a party, associations of political scientists (International and National). The Russian Association of Political Scientists is a voluntary association of individuals engaged in research in the field of political science. Its tasks, among others, include scientific examination of political decisions made by government and administrative bodies, political consulting of government bodies. The Association has its own Charter and corresponding organizational structure, but it is not a party.

A characteristic feature of modern mass social movements and organizations is that, as a rule, they are either directly related to politics or indirectly influence the quality of the activities of political institutions. Let's say international movement for peace gave rise to such a specific phenomenon of our time as public diplomacy, the positive role of which in world politics is well known.

Socio-political movements and organizations, depending on their connection with the political system, can be institutionalized (formal) and non-institutionalized (informal). The first, so to speak, are recognized by the political system as its component. element and function in accordance with a set of formal rules. The latter arise and act outside the system, according to rules not prescribed by it. These are the so-called informal organizations. However, in socio-political life everything is subject to dynamics. Mutual transformations of public organizations are also possible. Some informal movements and organizations are turning into formal and even political parties. This is the dialectic of many informal organizations in the former USSR.

Social and socio-political movements and organizations, unlike parties, are more heterogeneous in their social composition. They arise both from class and on a class-like and inter-class basis. So, if the labor movement is class, then the trade union movement is interclass.

Social movements and organizations differ in many other ways: in their goals, the functions they perform in relation to the interests of their members, as well as in relation to state power; at the place of activity; by types and methods of activity; by the nature of occurrence, by methods of organization, etc.

For example, according to the criterion of purpose, there are socio-political movements and organizations that are revolutionary and counter-revolutionary, reformist and conservative, national democratic, general democratic, environmental. By areas of activity: economic, social, national, international, religious, scientific, educational and others. By place of activity: local, regional, national, international, operating in parliament (functions and other associations of deputies), within management structures, in the system of educational and scientific institutions, in the religious environment. By the nature of occurrence: spontaneous and consciously organized; by method of organization: clubs, associations, associations, unions, fronts; by social composition: youth, women, professional.

No matter how diverse social movements and organizations are, all of them are one way or another called upon to perform two main tasks: a) expression and implementation of group interests; b) ensuring the participation of members of a particular group or community in the management of public affairs and self-government, and therefore, in the implementation of the principles of democracy (democracy). Hence the underlying reasons for the emergence of social movements and organizations: dissatisfaction of group needs and interests through the activities of institutions of state power and political parties, the presence of economic and socio-cultural problems that cannot be solved by the structures of power and management.

We can say that the whole palette of dialectics of movements and organizations has been manifested in recent years in our country. First of all, this is due to the formation of a multifaceted and contradictory range of specific interests, social expectations and claims of social groups, national communities, professional strata, demographic formations and work collectives. However, the presence of diverse social needs and interests does not in itself lead to the emergence of social movements and organizations. Only then does the factor of interests work when, firstly, the state of dissatisfaction with interests is fixed in the public consciousness; secondly, certain ideas are emerging in the mass consciousness about the content of group interests and ways to satisfy them; thirdly, there is a growing need among a significant part of various groups and segments of the people to participate in the adoption of socio-political decisions related to the implementation of interests; finally, fourthly, in the presence of appropriate democratic structures in the political system. In a word, social and socio-political movements and organizations arise on the basis of social group interests, subject to the development of self-awareness of certain social groups, realized in social activity related to the satisfaction of these interests.

In the country in recent years, the process of formation of numerous movements and organizations has been explosive. And not by chance. The long-term blocking of group interests and social expectations had an effect, since there were no appropriate channels for the articulation of interests and, in general, for human self-expression in society and its political system. A rigid divide has emerged between the official, party-bureaucratic and unofficial mass consciousness; people's distrust of the goals promoted by existing socio-political organizations has reached a critical level. In the republics, the process has become even more aggravated due to the unresolved nature of many aspects of the national question.

In the current atmosphere, saturated with acute socio-political and ideological contradictions, protest movements and organizations of a radical democratic nature initially began to emerge outside the existing system of organizations. These are popular fronts, economic movements, and voter associations. Then mass movements are formed within systemic state, party, trade union and youth structures: independent trade union organizations, strike committees, various groups of deputies. Subsequently, there is an integration of movements and organizations formed both outside and inside the political system. A kind of movement blocks are formed; “Democratic Russia”, “United Front of Working People of Russia”, “Working Moscow” and others. A number of organizations and movements are developing into political parties. National fronts in some union republics became ruling.

Tracing the dialectic of the process of forming new social movements and organizations and transforming previously existing ones, one cannot help but note such features. Firstly, the politicized and ideological nature of the vast majority of movements. Secondly, the evolution of the majority (national fronts of all, without exception) in terms of increasing anti-socialist, nationalist and anti-Soviet orientation. Thirdly, the prevalence of confrontational, destructive rather than creative moments in the orientations and actions of newly emerged social formations.

The confrontation between social and political forces that has formed in Russian society is evidence of the deep systemic crisis in which it finds itself. The way out of it lies through reforming civil society and the political system based on the consistent implementation of the principles of democracy and moving along the path of progress, and not moving backwards.

Views