Types of power according to the degree of institutionalization: legal government. Typology of power according to the degree of its institutionalization

Comments

By degree of institutionalization and type of organization power can be divided into formal (institutional) and informal. Formal authority manifests itself in the activities of institutions, institutions of power of the president, parliament, government, court, public organizations, etc. Power formalized in state institutions is called state power.

Informal power does not have management or executive levels, strictly defined functions and prerogatives. This power manifests itself as leadership in informal movements, leadership of demonstrations, speaking at rallies, etc. (see diagram 4.4).

4.5. Typology of power by the number of those in power

Comments

By the number of rulers, as we know from Aristotle, power can be individual (monarchical), oligarchic (power of a few) or democratic (power of the whole people). But modern political science, taking into account the mainly representative nature of power, divides it on a quantitative basis into individual and collegial.

Example sole power can be considered the power of a monarch, president or dictator.

Collegial power - this is, for example, the power of parliament, the Constitutional Court, and the Council of Ministers. All political decisions in modern world are discussed and often accepted collectively. What matters here is who has the last word, and most importantly, who is responsible for these decisions (see diagram 4.5).

4.6. Levels of power

Comments

Political power is organized and functions in society at three interconnected levels:

macro level - it is the supreme power of the central government institutions;

meso level - the so-called middle level of management, formed by regional, regional government structures (for example, in Russia these are republican and regional dumas, representatives of the President). Their main function is the transmission of commands from the center, control over their implementation and management within the framework of their prerogatives;

mini level - These are local elected authorities of districts and regional centers. They carry out the commands of central and regional bodies, but also have their own budget and solve problems at their level.

An important feature of democracy is the presence of local authority, community authority, village street, city, microdistrict. This is not political power, it does not use means of violence, but it also has its own budget. She solves local problems (road repairs, street cleaning, etc.). Let us remember the reforms of Cleisthenes in Ancient Greece (509 BC). In Athens, it was from meetings of demos that democracy began, that is, solving one’s problems on one’s own. Local authorities enjoy great influence in Europe and the USA. Here she collects taxes, has her own budget and significant opportunities. In Russia in late XIX– early 20th century local government existed in the form of zemstvos. Thus, the fourth level of power, but not state power, not political power, will be micro level or local government (see diagram 4.6).

4.7. Political elite

Comments

Outstanding Italian political scientists G. Mosca and V. Pareto devoted their works to the theoretical justification of the place and role of the elite in the system of power. G. Mosca defined the elite as a group of the most politically active people oriented towards power. They are well united and organized due to the possession of sufficiently large property, good education, professional training, well-established information and close relationships. This allows them to quickly and effectively manage society in their own interests using the so-called political formula - a set of means and methods of manipulating the consciousness of the governed. The presence of a political formula (system of values) creates the illusion of subordination not to a specific person, but to an abstract “principle of power.” Thus, the political formula allows the ruling elite to gain a foothold in power.

V. Pareto believed that the development of society occurs cyclically. The social cycle is the cycle of the elite. It arises in the lower strata of society, as a result of struggle with other groups, rises to a higher strata, flourishes and, finally, degenerates. According to the methods of government, V. Pareto divides the elite into “foxes” and “lions”. The former rule by persuasion, deception, ingratiation, maneuvering. The second is through forceful pressure, coercion and suppression. Ideal rulers skillfully combine the “habits” of foxes and lions (cf. N. Machiavelli).

Elite theories have found their place in modern political science, which by elite means “ruling structures”, “decision-making centers”, “political leadership”, “country leadership”, “presidential entourage”. Sometimes it is directly mentioned about the ruling elite, which includes the administrative (bureaucratic) elite, the highest military circles, representatives of science, culture, the media and religion, that is, those who make political decisions in reality high level, and those who shape public opinion.

Social life is a multifaceted concept. However, progress Russian society, as we see from history, directly depends on the quality of the specific creative intellectual process carried out in it. What is institutionalization? This is an organization by a developed civil society of standardized passage. The tools are intellectual formations developed by society - institutions with a fixed functioning scheme, staffing structure, job descriptions. Any area public life- political, economic, legal, informational, cultural - for the purpose of the progress of society, it is subject to generalization and streamlining by this process.

Examples of institutionalization are, for example, parliament, created on the basis of meetings of citizens; a school crystallized from the work of an outstanding artist, painter, dancer, thinker; a religion that takes its origins from the sermons of the prophets. Thus, institutionalization is, of course, in its essence, ordering.

It is carried out as a replacement of sets of individual behavior models with one - generalized, regulated one. If we talk about the constructive elements of this process, then developed by sociologists social norms, rules, statuses and roles are the operating mechanism of institutionalization that resolves pressing social needs.

Russian institutionalization

It must be admitted that it is truly reliable economic basis institutionalization in Russia in the new century is ensured. Production growth is ensured. Stabilized politic system: a “working” Constitution, a capable division of branches of legislative, executive, judicial power, existing freedoms provide the basis for such development.

Historically institutionalization Russian authorities went through the following stages:

• The first (1991-1998) is transitional from the Soviet regime.
• The second (1998-2004) was a change in the model of society from oligarchic to state-capitalist.
• The third (2005-2007) is the formation of effective institutions of society.
• The fourth (starting from 2008) is a stage characterized by the effective participation of human capital.

Russia has an elitist model of democracy that limits the circle of people actively participating in the political process, which corresponds to the Russian mentality, which assumes the dominance of the interests of the state over the interests of the individual. Support from civil society is essential political course elite.

It should be recognized that the traditional part of the population, brought up in the “wild” 90s, remains a limiting factor for development. But new principles of democracy are being introduced into society. The institutionalization of power in Russia has led to the fact that political institutions are divided not only into those of power, but also into institutions of participation. Currently, the role of the latter is increasing. They have a targeted impact on certain aspects of the progress of society.

The sphere of influence of those in power is the entire population of the country. The main political institutions include the state itself and civil society. A feature of Russian institutionalization is its modeling taking into account the interests of the country's development. Blindly importing Western institutions is not always effective here, so institutionalization in Russia is a creative process.

Institutionalization and social institutions

Social institutions and institutionalization are important as universal tools for uniting the efforts of many people living in various subjects of the federation for the optimal distribution of resources and satisfaction of Russian society with them.

For example, the institution of the state exercises power to satisfy needs maximum quantity citizens. The institution of law regulates the relationship between people and the state, as well as between individuals and society as a whole. The Institute of Faith helps people find faith, the meaning of life, and truth.

These institutions serve as the foundation of civil society. They are generated by the needs of society, which are characterized by mass manifestations and the reality of existence.

From a formal point of view, a social institution can be represented as a “role system” based on the roles and statuses of various members of society. At the same time, operating in a federal state, Russian institutions in order to gain maximum legitimacy, they are doomed to combine within themselves the maximum set of traditions, customs, and moral and ethical standards. Regulation and control are carried out through institutions that implement legal and social norms developed taking into account these traditions and customs.

For the Russian mentality, it is important to reinforce formal organization during the functioning of this or that institution, informal.

The distinctive features of institutions that help determine their presence in the diverse social life of a country are numerous constant types interactions, regulation as job responsibilities, as well as the order of their implementation, the presence in the staff of “narrow” specialists trained in the profile.

What social institutions can be called the main ones in modern society? Their list is known: family, health care, education, social protection, business, church, mass media. Are they institutionalized? As you know, for each of these areas in the government there is a corresponding ministry, which is the “top” of the corresponding branch of government, which covers the regions. IN regional system The executive branch has organized appropriate departments that control the direct executors, as well as the dynamics of relevant social phenomena.

Political parties and their institutionalization

The institutionalization of political parties in its current interpretation began after the Second World War. One can say about its composition that it includes political and legal institutionalization. The political streamlines and optimizes the efforts of citizens to create parties. Legal establishes legal status and areas of activity. Important questions There are also the problem of ensuring financial transparency of party activities and the rules of its interaction with business and the state.

The generalized legal status of all parties (place in government and other organizations) and the individual social status of each (reflects the resource base and role in society) are normatively established.

The activities and status of modern parties are regulated by law. In Russia, the task of institutionalizing parties is resolved by a special federal law “On Political Parties.” According to it, a party is formed in two ways: by a founding congress or by transforming a movement (social organization).

The state regulates the activities of parties, namely the rights and obligations, functions, participation in elections, financial activities, relationships with government agencies, international and ideological activities.

The restrictive requirements are: the all-Russian nature of the party, the number of members (more than 50 thousand), the non-ideological, non-religious, non-national nature of this organization.

Representation of parties in legislative bodies is ensured by associations of deputies (factions) elected to them.

The legislation also defines the legal personality of parties: administrative, civil law, constitutional law.

Institutionalization of conflicts

Let's turn to history. The institutionalization of conflict as a social phenomenon finds its origins in the era of the emergence of capitalist relations. Depriving peasants of land by large landowners, transforming them social status in the proletarians, conflicts between the emerging bourgeois class and the nobility who do not want to leave their positions.

In terms of conflict regulation, institutionalization is the resolution of two conflicts at once: industrial and political. The conflict between employers and workers is regulated by the institution of collective agreement, taking into account the interests of hired workers by trade unions. The conflict over the right to control society is resolved by the mechanism of suffrage.

Thus, the institutionalization of conflict is a protective instrument of social consensus and a system of balances.

Public opinion and its institutionalization

Public opinion is a product of the interaction of various segments of the population, political parties, networks, and the media. The dynamics of public opinion have increased significantly thanks to the Internet, interactivity, and flash mobs.

The institutionalization of public opinion has created specific organizations that study public opinion, compile ratings, and predict election results. These organizations collect, study existing and form new public opinion. It should be recognized that such studies are often biased and rely on biased samples.

Unfortunately, the structured shadow economy distorts the concept of “institutionalization of public opinion.” In this case, the judgments and wishes of most people are not translated into real government policy. Ideally, there should be a direct and clear connection between the will of the people and its implementation through parliament. People's representatives are obliged to serve public opinion by promptly adopting the necessary regulations.

Social work and institutionalization

At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, in Western European society, in connection with industrialization and the involvement of a wide variety of population groups, the institution of social work arose. It was mainly about social benefits and assistance to workers' families. In our time, social work has acquired the features of reasonable altruistic assistance to people who are not sufficiently adapted to living conditions.

Social work, depending on the subject of its implementation, can be state, public or mixed. Government agencies include the ministry social policy, its regional departments, local institutions serving socially disadvantaged people. Help is provided to certain members of society. It is regular, carried out by staff social workers and relies on budget resources. Public social work is voluntary, performed by volunteers and most often irregular. As you understand, the institutionalization of social work gives the greatest effect in a mixed version, where its state and public forms simultaneously coexist.

Stages of institutionalization of the shadow economy

The process of institutionalization is gradual. Moreover, all stages of its passage are typical. The root cause of this process and at the same time its feeding basis is a need, the implementation of which requires organized actions of people. Let's take a paradoxical route. Let us consider the stages of institutionalization during the formation of such a negative institution as the “shadow economy”.

• Stage I - the emergence of a need. Disparate financial transactions (for example, export of capital, cashing out) of individual economic entities (since the 90s of the last century) have become widespread and systematic.
• Stage II - the formation of certain goals and an ideology serving their implementation. The goal can, for example, be formulated as follows: “Creation of an economic system “invisible” to state control. Creating a climate in society where those in power enjoy the right of permissiveness.”
• Stage III - creation of social norms and rules. These norms initially establish the rules that determine the “closedness” of power to control by the people (“Byzantine system of power”). At the same time, laws that “do not work” in society force business entities to “go under the roof” of illegitimate structures that actually carry out the regulatory function lost by the laws.
• Stage IV - the emergence of standard functions associated with norms. For example, the function of “protecting the business” of those in power by the security forces, the function of legal cover for raiding, cashing out finances under fictitious contracts, and creating a system of “kickbacks” with budget funding.
• Stage V - practical use norms and functions. Gradually, shadow conversion centers are being created that are not advertised in the official press. They work with specific clients in a sustainable and long-term manner. Their conversion rate is minimal; they successfully compete with official converting organizations. Another direction: shadow wages, which range from 15-80%.
• Stage VI - creation of a system of sanctions that protect the criminal structure. Government positions are being privatized by capital to serve businesses. They, these officials, are developing “rules” that punish “slander” and “moral damage.” Manually controlled human rights bodies and tax authorities are turning into a private “squad” of those in power.
• Stage VII - shadow verticals of power. Officials turn their levers of power into a resource for their entrepreneurial activity. The power ministries and the prosecutor's office are virtually isolated from the function of protecting the interests of the people. Judges who ensure the policy of regional authorities and are “fed” by it for this.

The process of institutionalization, as we see, is universal in terms of its main stages. Therefore, it is fundamentally important that the creative and legitimate social interests of society are subject to it. The institution of the shadow economy, which worsens the quality of life of ordinary citizens, must be supplanted by the institution of the rule of law.

Sociology and institutionalization

Sociology studies society as a complex institutional system, taking into account its social institutions and the connections between them, relationships and communities. Sociology shows society from the point of view of its internal mechanisms and the dynamics of their development, the behavior of large groups of people and, in addition, the interaction of man and society. It provides and explains the essence of social phenomena and behavior of citizens, and also collects and analyzes primary sociological data.

The institutionalization of sociology expresses the inner essence of this science, which organizes social processes with the help of statuses and roles, it is itself aimed at ensuring the functioning of society. Therefore, a phenomenon occurs: sociology itself falls under the definition of an institution.

Stages of development of sociology

There are several stages in the development of sociology as a new world science.

• The first stage dates back to the 30s of the 19th century; it consists in highlighting the subject and method of this science by the French philosopher Auguste Comte.
• The second is the “development” of scientific terminology, acquisition of qualifications by specialists, organization of operational scientific exchange of information.
• The third is positioning oneself as part of the philosophers as “sociologists.”
• The fourth is the creation of a sociological school and the organization of the first scientific journal “Sociological Yearbook”. The greatest merit belongs to the French sociologist Emile Durkheim at the Sorbonne University. However, in addition to this, the Department of Sociology was opened in (1892)
• The fifth stage, a kind of “recognition” of the state, was the introduction of sociological specialties into state professional registers. Thus, society finally recognized sociology.

In the 1960s, American sociology received significant capitalist investments. As a result, the number of American sociologists increased to 20 thousand, and the titles of sociological periodicals increased to 30. Science took an adequate position in society.

In the USSR, sociology was revived after the October Revolution in 1968 - at Moscow State University. The Department of Sociological Research was created. The first periodical was published in 1974, and in 1980 sociological professions were added to the country's professional register.

If we talk about the development of sociology in Russia, then it is worth mentioning the Faculty of Sociology opened in 1989 at Moscow State University. He “gave a start in life” to 20 thousand sociologists.

Thus, institutionalization is a process in Russia that took place, but with a delay - relative to France and the USA - by a hundred years.

Conclusion

In modern society there are many institutions that exist not materially, but in the minds of people. Their formation, institutionalization, is a dynamic and dialectical process. Outdated institutions are replaced by new ones, generated by key social needs: communication, production, distribution, security, maintaining social inequality, establishing

Faculty of State and Municipal Administration
Specialty 080504.65 “State and municipal management”
Department of Management, State and Municipal Administration

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
in the discipline "System government controlled»
INFORMAL ACTIVITIES OF THE STATE

Khabarovsk 2010
CONTENT

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………… ………….…3

………………………………………… ………………5
CONTENT OF INFORMAL ACTIVITIES…………...…..7
Manifestation informal activities states in various spheres of society……………………….……..…10
GRADE the influence of informal activities on areas of public life……………………………………24

INTRODUCTION

The point of view that the current socio-economic and political situation in Russia cannot be understood without taking into account “informal” component - among scientists and practitioners is shared by an increasing number of scientists and practitioners.
Without knowledge of content and essence informal relationships; how they are carried out informal activities; how they actually work informal "rules of the game" In our opinion, today it is impossible for any competent behavior of members of society, aimed at a realistically predictable result, to begin with the youngest - “pioneers”, ending with the elderly - pensioners, both in economics and in politics.
The main paradox modern history Russian society is its socio-economic survival. The life of millions of people, the vast majority of the population, cannot be understood unless one takes into account their activities in informal economy, when using informal practices at least a tolerable modern existence is ensured.
Reasons for availability paradox of survival(T. Shanin) - are quite numerous, but its main idea is connected with common sense, many witty anecdotes and aphorisms of people concerning their socio-economic existence - such as: “this collision is certainly the last”, “if you don’t grease, you won’t go” , “you cannot fire a family worker” and many similar others, reflecting the essence of informal relations and informal practices. Informal relationships - this is “blat”, and “patronage”, and “roof”, and much more, and we are still not sure what exactly they are. Informal contexts accompany almost any human action.
Therefore, the relevance of the topic “informality” both in sociology, and in economics, and in ethics, and in politics, and culture, and in other sciences, it is connected with the fact that the importance of the approach to the relationship between the formal and informal is still not fully realized, although this problem itself is from a theoretical point of view has been researched in depth.
Thus, it is well known that informal rules perform the function of structuring social interactions and are an integral part of spontaneously emerging orders of cooperation between people.
Informal management interactions unfold within formal management structures. But at the same time, these interactions also occur outside the normative framework of these structures.
The implementation of informal management interactions regularly and on a fairly wide scale means that these interactions are integral part formal management structures and are necessary for their normal functioning 1.
Thus, object This study will focus on the informal activities of the state, subject– the functioning of those structures that are included in the concept of informal activity.

BASIC DEFINITIONS OF INFORMAL POWER AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

2 CONTENT OF INFORMAL ACTIVITIES

Subjects of informal activity have a complex, multi-level nature. In this case, we are talking not so much about the apparatuses of power structures - which are the primary level (since the powers of the apparatuses are one way or another spelled out in the relevant regulations and job descriptions, which establish the subordinate position of the apparatuses of state bodies in relation to the bodies themselves), but about a set of specific groups and associations , as well as special structures, either not provided for by current legislation, or having limited powers to participate in political decision-making.
These are, first of all, various “interest groups” and their varieties - “pressure groups” and “influence groups”, which sometimes have a well-defined structure and hierarchy, but nevertheless are generally not formalized through the standards adopted in public policy: there is no legal status, state registration, formal membership, etc. In addition to “interest groups,” structures of this kind can also include various kinds of lobbying structures, which can be partially formalized (business clubs, various councils under the President of the Russian Federation, the government, ministries, governors or mayors), but even in this case they are formed not on a representative basis, but, as a rule, on a personal, informal basis and for narrow corporate purposes.
Shadow political subjects (oligarchs, regional leaders, etc.) do not have developed technologies for working with the state in the legal and institutional field. As for the state, it acts not as a subject of a higher level, an arbiter in relations with shadow political groups and a judge in their activities, but as a subject of these relations, whose resources changed hands and which entered into coalitions with those with other groups.
There are different types of political resources that political actors have, and there are situational perceptions of the value of different types of resources. As a rule, those entities that experience a shortage of resources a certain kind(especially if the latter are recognized as valuable) must compensate them. This is possible in two main ways.
Firstly, by discrediting the adopted resource assessment system and decision-making system. To do this, you must simultaneously discredit (undermine people’s trust in something or stop providing support to someone) the classical system of government (administrative state mechanism) and effectively influence the decision-making process with the help of those resources that you have in abundance (“ access to the body", personal connections, media, etc.). If this is successful, then a new generally accepted understanding of the value of types of resources and mechanisms of power is gradually formed, which is beneficial.
Another important mechanism for compensating for resource deficit is the conversion (transformation) of resources. Money, intelligence, media or power capabilities can be converted into power, including administrative and institutionalized power. Therefore, the political system must have resource conversion centers. As a rule, most shadow centers of power and influence arise and (or) function precisely as such centers. The result is an increase in the influence in politics of intermediaries who take advantage of the functions of “organizing communications” and providing services for transforming resources, various types of influence into power.
In such a system, oligarchs retain opportunities for their existence and become agents of the state to implement a regime of managed democracy. They operate under the strict control of the state, which has the sanction of public opinion and political legitimacy for a tough policy towards big capital, which can be implemented at any time through informal procedures. However, the state’s building of such a system of relations with the oligarchs is fraught with quite serious danger. At a certain point, the “economic base” of the regime may get out of control, and big capital will turn into an “agent of pressure” on the state from various kinds of protest groups in society.
Objects of informal activity too heterogeneous (political decision-making, lobbying, provision of services, preferences among communities, family clans, etc.).
Item– shadow political relations.
Public administration, not finding an environment of legality and order organically inherent in established state forms, is forced to rely primarily on informal mechanisms of power, much less predictable and often ineffective. This is how a system of governing the country takes shape, based on personal connections and corporate solidarity within the ruling elites, on hidden administrative mechanisms, the slightest inconsistency of which, especially during periods of socio-political crises, is fraught with managerial collapse.

3 Manifestation of informal activities of the state in various spheres of society

Economic(from the point of view of a large number of political scientists, (and not only Marxists), the protection of economic interests prevails among the goals of political activity. Despite the fact that many public campaigns are not directly related to financial interests, as long as the state is involved in direct or indirect macroeconomic management, economic conflict will determine the political process)
Non-economic (ideological). The nature of these interests is to protect not material, but values ​​that determine the way of life of the community, such as political rights, freedom, security, culture, morality, religion. This area can be called “ideological interests.”
Public Interest(Politicians, officials, and lobbyists often refer to the category “public interest” or “public good.” Therefore, it is important to understand what is meant by this category. There is an old tradition in Western political thought of referring to the concept of “public good”. In Russian criminal and constitutional law, in some norms of election legislation and, of course, in information legislation, references to public interest are often made in the absence of a definition of the concept “public interest”. A free interpretation of this concept allows, in some cases, to manipulate the behavior of many people.The most general definition public good is the “preservation and development of the community.” You can use an understanding similar to that used by J. Berry in Lobbying for the People, where “public interest” organizations are understood as groups that implement goals that are not the private goal of individual members or a group of members)
Private interests(that area of ​​interest of the individual where he acts as a parent, businessman, owner, etc., i.e. as a member of a certain reference group, not a member of society)

Direct methods

Direct contact(Virtually every organization ever involved in lobbying has used lobbying tactics such as direct contact with decision-makers - by telephone, by mail, and also directly. The main technique of a lobbyist in in this case is to demonstrate to an elected official or those dependent on him how the implementation of a particular policy will affect the electoral mood).

Providing information, examination(Interest groups conduct analytical research or gather technical information on issues that concern their members. Typically, both legislators and executive officials have limited expert resources to conduct research on the consequences of all the decisions they make. In some cases, lobbyists are an option propose a ready-made bill for submission to parliament. With regard to this method of lobbying, personal contacts, especially informal ones, have a greater effect)
Lunches(the practice of “wining and dining” is described in American scientific literature as a form of direct lobbying. In Russian practice, it is no less developed, it’s just that individual forms differ in the same way that individual cultural characteristics of societies differ. In the United States, it is customary to invite (usually lobbyists) officials to various informal events, such as hunting, fishing, bowling, air and boat trips, trips to entertainment centers, etc. However, in many states, the value of lobbying by inviting legislators to events has declined as the need for information has increased. Similar dynamics are also observed in Russian practice).

Indirect methods

Financing of election campaigns of candidates for elected bodies- a method of influence, which, on the one hand, is based on providing votes indirectly, and on the other hand, brings personal connections or the opportunity to access decision makers (DMs). Firstly, lobbyists have the opportunity to influence the candidate’s election program. Secondly, subsequently gaining access to decision-makers serves as motivation for supporting campaigns. That is, in this way, communication channels between the group and politicians are formed.
Information campaigns(based on the factor of indirect influence on the distribution of votes in elections. However, no less a problem than coordinating the interests of competing interests is absenteeism (ignoring politics) of the public. To overcome this apathy, all sorts of tactics for working with public opinion are used, aimed at both large audiences and and focused on a few social groups)

Methods of shadow lobbying in the State Duma of the Russian Federation

This process begins with the identification of status-role groups that are called upon to lead the life of society. In a tribal society, the head of the clan or the leader of the tribe was simply “first among equals” - he performed the same work as the rest of the community members and only incidentally, occasionally performed managerial functions. The increasing complexity of the social structure required professional management of it. For example,. Russian. Truth - the first, dated 1016, ancient Russian written set of norms of secular law - records precisely the allocation of special status groups (as they were called: service people or princely men), who were directly involved in administration, legal proceedings, and the collection of taxes and taxes.

Simultaneously with the formation of a status management group, a regulatory and legal system was created to regulate the nature of the interaction of this group with the rest of society. The regulation of relations between managers and subordinates comes down, as a rule, to fixing the sphere of competence of managers, i.e. the limits of their power. The historical trend here is to narrow the boundaries of the arbitrariness of the power group and protect the rights of subordinates. Modern laws clearly indicate the boundaries of the power of officials.

To maintain the legal and regulatory system, a sanctions mechanism is created that ensures that individuals comply with the norms and rules assigned by law.

Legitimacy of power

The main consequence of the institutionalization of power is the formation in society of a stable mechanism that ensures the constant reproduction of political power institutions and the rooting in the minds of people of certain patterns of political behavior. If a political philosopher can discuss how legitimate (from Lat - legal) or illegitimate some power is from the point of view of its justice or expediency, then a sociologist can judge legitimacy as people’s faith in this phenomenon. For him there are no right or wrong orders, which means there is no real or false legitimacy. If the majority of members of society believe that power is in the hands of those individuals who have the right to it, such power is considered legitimate. In a democratic state, the person with legitimate power is the elected statesman, in a monarchy - the decline of whoever holds the throne. The right of such a person to govern the state cannot be questioned even if some of her actions cause general disapproval among society.

According to the definition of an American sociologist and political scientist. Sei-mura. Lipset (1922), legitimacy presupposes the ability of a system to generate and maintain the belief that existing political institutions are the most suitable for society.

If power is not based on the expectations of certain patterns of political behavior on the part of society, but relies on coercion and violence, it is considered illegitimate. Those who have illegitimate power are not endowed by society with the right to apply coercion to those to whom they impose it.

For example, we, without much desire, but also without much indignation, pay state taxes because the collection of funds by the state for the needs of public administration, defense and others is considered by us to be normal, expected, legalized behavior, that is, we recognize the legal right of the state assign certain types taxes and punish those citizens who refuse to pay them. In other words, we recognize the power of the state as legitimate. Let’s imagine that some occupying power forces us to pay taxes to it. It is possible that we would have to pay, but we are also forced to give our money to the robber who threatens us with violence. The occupying power (like any power that we do not recognize as legitimate), like a robber, has power over us, but this power is illegitimate, it is based solely on force.

You should not think that only democratic power is legitimate, and the power of a king or dictator is always illegitimate. There is a lot in history counter examples, let's say, a dictator. Itler came to power quite legally, relying on the will of the majority, and expressed distrust in democratic institutions. Weimar Republic. Consequently, having lost the trust of citizens, it ceased to be legitimate.

The loss of legitimacy of power always has certain external signs. It is manifested in the growing dissatisfaction of citizens with the authorities, mass protests, riots, violations of the usual norms of relations between the authorities and the thunder of Madyanama and, as a consequence, in the increasing role of punitive authorities and the use of force.

German sociologist. Max. Weber identified three main types of legitimacy of political power, depending on the origins

In the process of institutionalization, any social relationship takes shape with established sets of rules, laws and sanctions. This form is called a “social institution,” and all rules and regulations can be formalized both in writing and orally.

Process of institutionalization

Institutionalization implies a change in the form of relations in a community or group in such a way that the spontaneous behavior of members of these formations becomes organized.

The creation and development of such social institutions takes a long time, sometimes centuries. As a result, spontaneous social phenomenon transforms into a full-fledged organized institution, in which all processes are streamlined and there is a clearly structured hierarchy of power.

The process of institutionalization itself takes place in several stages:

• First, certain needs arise in society, the satisfaction of which is possible only through the organization of joint actions;

• The next step is to define the goals to be achieved;
• At the third stage, the behavior of the majority of members of the system is still spontaneous, but the process of creating norms and rules, as well as related procedures, gradually begins;
• Next begins directly institutionalization, that is, the formal adoption and practical application of established procedures, rules, laws and regulations.

At the final stage, they are determined, and between all members of the newly formed social institution their roles are finally distributed and established.

Signs of institutionalization

In the process of creating a social institution, not only vault certain rules and norms, but also its own ideology, certain traditions and rituals appear, in most cases certain symbolism is introduced.

But the basis of a social institution consists, first of all, of its leaders, who perform important organizational and business functions, a complex of institutions, as well as tools and instruments of activity with the help of which members of the institutionalized group can perform their functions and responsibilities.

The main signs of institutionalization are:

• Changing the quality of the activities of group members: as part of an institute, such activities acquire a not only meaningful and orderly character, but also become professional;
• Distribution of roles in society and the emergence of hierarchy;
• The emergence of moral and legal norms regulation;
• The emergence of special objects, buildings and institutions necessary for the activities of members of the institute;
• The presence of an ideology, which is characterized as a system of ideas that do not contradict and support the moral and legal foundations of a particular institution.

Functions of social institutions

Regardless of what sphere or area an institution belongs to, it always has not only its own specific characteristics and characteristics, but also certain patterns of behavior characteristic of institutionalization as a whole. Any institution can reflect a wide variety of social relations - from politics and economics to family and religion. However, everyone the institute always performs five main functions:

• The function of consolidating and reproducing social relations;
• Communicative;
• Integrative;
• Regulatory;
• Broadcasting.

For consolidation and reproduction of social relations in every The institute has its own tools: these are the rules and regulations that govern the behavior of all participants. This function plays an important role as it ensures the stability of the entire system.

Communication function is necessary to ensure the regulation of relationships between the members of a social institution themselves, and for this purpose certain patterns and patterns of behavior and communication are always developed. This same function facilitates the acquisition of external information, since a social institution is an open structure, and its members are interested in knowledge about what is happening in other similar systems.

Integrative function contributes to maintaining the integrity of the institute itself and strengthening the connection between members of the entire team. Within the framework of this function, there is a combination of efforts () and the use of personal resources of the members of the institute to achieve some common goal.

Within regulatory function Institute develops certain patterns and patterns of behavior of members of the system, as a result of which relationships are regulated.

The last function is broadcasting. Due to this function, social experience is transferred within the institution itself, and members of the system are also introduced to common values, roles and norms. This function may seem secondary, but it is indispensable when changing generations and changing the social boundaries of the institution.

All these functions of social institutions direct members to act in accordance with certain established standards of behavior, and people who are associated with a particular institution tend to fulfill certain social roles that are assigned to them. For example, a soldier who wears a uniform and uses weapons does so primarily not because it is his personal preference, but because the norms and patterns of the social institution to which the soldier belongs so dictate.

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