The concept of "political regime" appeared in scientific circulation in the second half of the twentieth century. This is a phenomenon of political life and political system society as a whole. This concept is synthesized. It can be said that the characteristics of the political regime most fully show the true capabilities of a person in his relationship with power structures.

Political regime: concept and signs.

Political regime–it is a system of techniques, methods, methods of implementation political power in society. The notion of a political regime is key for the formation of ideas about the main systems of power. Based on it, they judge the true picture of the principles of organization. political structure society. The political regime characterizes a certain political climate that exists in a particular country at a particular period of its historical development.

The above definition of a political regime gives the most general idea of this concept... For a broader and more specific understanding of the political regime in a particular country, it is necessary to analyze the main features of a political regime:

The degree of people's participation in the mechanisms of the formation of political power, as well as the very methods of such formation;

Correlation of human and civil rights and freedoms with the rights of the state, guarantee of individual rights and freedoms;

The relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government;

The political and legal position and role in society of the “power” structures of the state (army, police, state security agencies, etc.);

The nature of the relationship between central and local government and administration;

The place and role of non-state structures in the political system of society;

The position of the media, the degree of publicity in society and the transparency of the state apparatus;

Dominance of certain methods (persuasion, coercion, etc.) in the exercise of state power.

The political regime depends on the balance of political forces in the social organism, the personality of the national leader and the characteristics of the ruling elite; historically and socio-cultural traditions, political culture of the population. The political regime is formed spontaneously, as a result of the common efforts of many actors in the political process and cannot be established by constitutions or other laws.

There are many classifications political regimes... Any of the classifications is conditional, since there are no “pure” political regimes in political practice. Depending on the characteristics of the set of methods and means of state rule, two polar regimes are distinguished - democratic and anti-democratic. It is to the multitude of these varieties that all the variety of political regimes can be reduced. In addition, anti-democratic regimes are usually divided into totalitarian and authoritarian.

2.Democratic regime

The concept of "democracy" (from the Greek. Demos-people and kratos-power) means democracy, the rule of the people. However, the situation in which the entire people would exercise political power has not yet been realized anywhere. It is rather an ideal, something that everyone needs to strive for. Meanwhile, there are a number of states that have done more in this direction than others (Germany, France, USA, Switzerland, England) and on which other states are often guided.

The versatility of the term "democracy" is due to the development of human society. Initially, democracy was seen as the direct rule of citizens, as opposed to the rule of a monarch or aristocrats. However, already in antiquity, democracy was considered the "worst form" of government. At that time, it was believed that the low level of culture of the citizens of the Greek city-states allowed the rulers to manipulate such ‘democracy’. That is why the regimes of democracy did not exist for a long time and passed into ochlocracy (the rule of the crowd), and those, in their turn, gave rise to tyranny. Based on this, Aristotle did not distinguish between democracy and ochlocracy and had a negative attitude towards democracy. His assessment of democracy, as well as the absence of real conditions for its practical implementation, influenced the further fate of this form of state: democracy was perceived negatively and was ousted from political use.

A new stage in the formation of the concept of democracy begins with the Great French Revolution - it was she who gave impetus to the development of democracy as a direction of socio-political thought, which formulates the goals of a socio-political movement that rejects monarchy and elitism.

Depending on how the people participate in government, who and how directly performs power functions, democracy is divided into direct (plebiscite) and representative (representative).

To forms direct democracy include: holding elections on the basis of universal suffrage, referendums, nationwide discussions of issues of public life. Members of society are directly involved in the development of political decisions, the adoption of laws, etc. This form of democracy makes it possible to develop the political activity of citizens, ensure the legitimacy of power, and exercise effective control over the activities of state institutions.

Representative democracy- this is when community members remain a source of power and have the right to make decisions, but they exercise this right through their elected representatives, who must defend their interests. Representative democracy is carried by parliaments and other elected bodies of power, both in the center and at the local level.

Neither of these forms exists in a “pure form,” but both are manifested in a democratic regime.

The main features of a democratic regime:

Recognition of the people as a source of power, sovereign in the state... Popular sovereignty is expressed in the fact that it is the people who own the constituent, constitutional power in the state. The people elect their representatives and can periodically replace them. In a number of countries, it also has the right to directly participate in the development and adoption of laws through popular initiatives and referendums.

Free expression of the will of the people in elections, the election of public authorities. This principle is seen as a key condition for a democratic regime. It assumes the possibility of free and fair elections, excluding all coercion and violence. All persons who control the power structures must be elected on the basis of procedures established by law and be re-elected from time to time within a strictly specified time frame. Voters should have the right and the ability to recall their representatives.

The priority of human and civil rights and freedoms over the rights of the state. State authorities are called upon to protect human rights and freedoms, which the individual acquires by virtue of birth. As well as civil rights and political freedoms, including the right to life, liberty and security of the individual, to equality before the law, to citizenship and participation in the government of one's country, to non-interference in personal and family life, etc.

Citizens have a large volume of rights and freedoms, which are not only proclaimed, but also legally assigned to them. In democratic states, the legal principle “everything that is not prohibited is allowed” is in force.

HA clear division of powers into legislative, executive and judicial. The highest legislative body of the country - the parliament is endowed with the exclusive right to make laws. In a sense, this authority has a dominant role, and, therefore, there is a potential danger of excessive concentration of political power in it. Therefore, in a democratic political regime, the three branches of political power balance each other. In particular, the highest executive power (president, government) has the right to legislative, budgetary and personnel initiatives. The President has the right to veto decisions made by the legislature. The judiciary has the power to overturn both legislative and executive decisions.

Police, special servicesandarmy - perform the functions of ensuring the internal and external security of the state and society. Their actions are regulated and limited by the operation of the law. The main functions of maintaining law and order belong not to the army and special services, but to the police and the courts.

Political pluralism, multiparty system. Under a democratic regime, functions multiparty system, in which one party can replace the other in power on legal grounds as a result of elections. All political parties should be placed on an equal legal basis in their struggle for votes and for their representation in government bodies. In accordance with the results of the elections, the political parties with the majority of the votes cast are entitled to form the government bodies and the status of the ruling party. The losers in the elections receive the status of an opposition party. In carrying out its mission, the opposition criticizes the authorities. She puts forward an alternative program. The opposition controls the power through the activities of its factions and blocs in parliaments, in its media and press.

Power in the state increasingly based on belief than coercion. When making political decisions, the procedures for finding a compromise and consensus prevail.

The listed principles of a democratic regime can create an idealized image of democracy. Of course, the merits of democracy, and, consequently, of a democratic political regime are obvious and indisputable. However, democracy has both vulnerabilities and disadvantages.

Democracy is sometimes ironically defined as “the domination of the majority of society over the best,” in which political amateurism flourishes, and the dominance of mediocrity is established. Democracy does not guarantee against the coming to power of self-serving people with low culture and morality, but a sophisticated mind and populist methods.

Of course, democracy is not an ideal phenomenon, but despite all its shortcomings, it is the best and fairest form of government ever known.

The complete opposite of a democratic regime is a totalitarian regime, or totalitarianism.

- one of the forms of the political system of society with its characteristic goals, means and methods of implementation.

The political regime gives an idea of ​​the essence of state power that was established in the country at a certain period of its history. Therefore, the structure of the political system or the state is not so important as the ways of interaction between society and the state, the scope of human rights and freedoms, the ways of forming political institutions, style and methods of political management.

The same or similar state structures can give rise to essentially different political regimes, and, on the contrary, the same type of regimes can arise in political systems that are different in their structure. For example, many European countries are constitutional monarchies (Sweden, Norway, Belgium, etc.), but the political regime in these countries corresponds to a republican power structure with democratic methods of government. At the same time, the Republic of Iran, having a completely democratic political structure organization of the state, the allotment is an authoritarian state.

Distinguish authentically democratic regime power from authoritarian or totalitarian can be difficult. the USSR long time was for many peoples of the world the personification of real democracy and an oasis of democratic freedoms. The true position of the people, who survived the most terrible totalitarian regime in the history of mankind, was revealed to the world only during the period of publicity.

The nature and characteristics of the political regime

Important characteristics of the political regime are the principles of organizing the institutions of power, the outlined political goals, methods and methods of achieving them. For example, in totalitarian regimes, slogans and attitudes such as: “the end justifies the means,” “victory at any cost,” etc. are very popular.

The nature of the political regime is significantly influenced by the historical traditions of the people and the level of political culture of the society. A political dictator or a ruling political elite can usurp power only to the extent that the popular masses and institutions of civil society allow them. It is hard to imagine that in countries with long-standing democratic traditions and high level political culture would establish an authoritarian or totalitarian regime of power. But in countries with a predominantly traditional political culture, authoritarian and totalitarian regimes arise naturally.

Forms and types of political regimes

There are countless varieties of political regimes, but in political studies, three main forms of political regimes are usually distinguished: totalitarian, authoritarian and democratic.

Totalitarian political regime

(lat. totalis - all, whole, complete) - a political regime in which the state completely subjugates all spheres of society and the individual. It is precisely in the comprehensiveness of its supervision that totalitarianism differs from all other forms of state violence - despotism, tyranny, military dictatorship, etc.

The term "totalitarianism" was introduced in the 1920s. critics B. Mussolini, but since 1925 he himself began to use it to characterize the fascist state. Since 1929, this term has been used in relation to the regime prevailing in the USSR.

Totalitarianism emerged in the 20th century. as a political regime and as a special model of the socio-economic order, characteristic of the stage of industrial development, and as an ideology that gives clear guidelines for the development of a "new man", "a new economic and political order." This is a kind of "reaction" of the masses to the accelerated destruction of traditional structures, their desire for unity and consolidation in the face of frightening uncertainty.

In this state, the masses become easy "prey" for various kinds of political adventurers (leaders, Fuhrer, charismatic leaders) who, relying on the fanaticism of their like-minded people, impose their ideology on the population, their plans for solving the problems that have arisen.

The political system of totalitarianism, as a rule, is a rigidly centralized party-state structure that exercises control over the entire society, preventing the emergence of any social and political organizations outside this control. For example, in the USSR, at every enterprise, in every state or public organization, there was a party cell (CPSU).

Under totalitarianism, civil society is completely absorbed by the state, and ideological control of the ruling party is established over the state itself. The dominant ideology is becoming a powerful unifying and mobilizing force in society. "He who is not with us is against us!" - this is one of the slogans that did not allow any pluralism of opinions.

Depending on the ideological currents, totalitarianism is usually meant to mean "left" and "right". "Left" totalitarianism, based on the ideas of Marxism-Leninism, arose in the communist countries (USSR, countries of Eastern Europe, Asia and Cuba). "Right" totalitarianism in fascist Germany was based on the ideology of National Socialism, and in Italy - on the ideas of Italian fascism.

For any totalitarian regime, the characteristic features are: military and paramilitary organization of society; constant search for internal and external "enemies", periodic creation of extreme situations; permanent mobilization of the masses to carry out the next "urgent" tasks; the requirement of unquestioning obedience to higher management; rigid vertical of power.

Authoritarian political regime

(from Latin auctoritas - power, influence; auctor - initiator, founder, author) - a political regime characterized by the concentration of all power in one person (monarch, dictator) or ruling group.

Authoritarianism is characterized by high centralization of power; nationalization of many aspects of public life; command and control methods of leadership; unconditional submission to power; alienation of the people from power; avoiding real political opposition; restriction of freedom of the press.

Under authoritarian regimes, the constitution is preserved, but it is declarative in nature. There is also an electoral system, but it serves an indicative and fictitious function. As a rule, the results of elections are predetermined and cannot influence the nature of the political regime.

Unlike totalitarianism, under authoritarianism there is no total control over all public organizations. In ideology, limited pluralism is allowed if it does not harm the system. Most of the active opponents of the regime are subjected to repression. People in neutral positions are not considered enemies. There are certain personal rights and freedoms, but they are limited.

Authoritarianism is one of the most common types of political system. According to its characteristics, it occupies an intermediate position between totalitarianism and democracy. Therefore, it is possible both during the transition from totalitarianism to democracy, and vice versa, from democracy to totalitarianism.

Authoritarian regimes are very diverse. They differ in the goals and methods of solving problems, in the forms of organization of power and can be reactionary, conservative or progressive. For example, countries such as Chile, Brazil, South Korea, through authoritarianism, came to a democratic regime of power.

Democratic political regime

(from the Greek demos - people and kratos - power) - the power of the people, or democracy. This is a form of the state, its political regime, in which the people or its majority is (considered) the bearer of state power.

The concept of "democracy" is multifaceted. Democracy is understood as the form of a state or organization, and the principles of governance, and a variety of social movements that imply the implementation of democracy, and the ideal social order, in which citizens are the main arbiters of their destinies.

Democracy as a method of organization and a form of government can take place in any organization (family, research department, production team, public organization, etc.).

Democracy is associated with freedom, equality, justice, respect for human rights, participation of citizens in government. Therefore, democracy as a political regime is usually opposed to authoritarian, totalitarian and other dictatorial regimes of power.

The word "democracy" is often used in combination with other words, for example, such as social democrat, Christian democrat, liberal democrat, etc. This is done in order to emphasize the adherence of certain social movements to democratic values.

The most important signs of democracy are:

• legal recognition of the supreme power of the people;
• periodic election of the main authorities;
• universal suffrage, according to which every citizen has the right to take part in the formation of representative institutions of power;
• equality of citizens' rights to participate in government - every citizen has the right not only to elect, but also to be elected to any elective position;
• decision-making by a majority vote and subordination of the minority to the majority;
• control of representative bodies over the activities of the executive branch;
• accountability of elected bodies to their voters.

Depending on how, how the people exercise their right to power, there are three main ways of realizing democracy.

Direct democracy - the entire people (who have the right to vote) directly make decisions and monitor their implementation. This form of democracy is most characteristic of early forms of democracy, for example, for the tribal community.

Direct democracy also existed in ancient times in Athens. There the main institution of power was the National Assembly, which made decisions and could often organize their immediate implementation. This form of democracy sometimes resembled the arbitrariness and lynching of the crowd. Obviously, this fact was one of the reasons that Plato and Aristotle had a negative attitude towards democracy, considering it a "wrong" form of government.

This kind of democracy existed in Ancient rome, in medieval Novgorod, in Florence and a number of other city-republics.

Plebiscite democracy - the people make a decision only in certain cases, for example, during a referendum on some issue.

Representative democracy - the people elect their representatives, and they, on their behalf, govern the state or some kind of authority. Representative democracy is the most widespread and effective form of democracy. The disadvantages of representative democracy lie in the fact that the people's representatives, having received powers of power, do not always fulfill the will of those whom they represent.

Political regimes

Target: Arguably, on specific examples to reveal the essence and content of the content of modern political regimes.

Plan:

1. The concept of a political regime.

2. The main types of political regimes:

a) The concept and ideological origins of totalitarianism.

c) Signs of a democratic regime

3. Implementation of social policy in Kazakhstan in a democratic regime.

Lecture summary:

A regime is control, a set of means and methods of exercising the economic and political power of the ruling class.

Each state has its own political regime... Political regime means a set of techniques, methods, forms, ways of exercising political power in society, characterizes the degree of political freedom, the legal status of an individual in society and a certain type of political system that exists in the country.

V modern world we can talk about numerous modes that differ slightly from each other.

Totalitarianism concept comes from lat. “TOTALIS” - whole, complete, whole. Usually, totalitarianism is understood as a political regime based on the desire of the country's leadership to establish complete control over an individual and subordinate his way of life to one, undividedly dominant idea.

Totalitarianism arose in Europe, more precisely, on the periphery of European civilization, as a result of some kind of synthesis of elements of Asian despotism with radical ideological doctrines. Collision of elements of east and European structures on the periphery of Europe (Russia, Prussia, Spain) under favorable circumstances (social crisis and the growth of radicalism) contributed to the coming to the fore of Asian despotism, which became the mainstay of the carriers of radical theories of the reorganization of the world.

Signs of totalitarianism :

Total state control over society;

General monopolization and centralization of power in the hands of the dominant minority;

System of tough police terrorist control over all citizens;

Politicization (in terms of propaganda) of all life;

The domination of the only ruling mass party, which is the core of the political system of a totalitarian society. Moreover, such a party can merge with the state.

Ideologization of society and public life on the basis of a single state ideology;

Unification and regulation of political, social and spiritual life;

A stake on the renewal of society based on global ideas;

A stake on one's own race (perhaps in a hidden form, for example, in the former USSR, the idea of ​​a “single Soviet people”).

Depending on the dominant ideology, totalitarianism is usually subdivided into communism, fascism and national socialism.

Communism(socialism), to a greater extent than other varieties of totalitarianism, expresses the main features of this system, since it presupposes the absolute power of the state, the complete elimination of private property and, consequently, any autonomy of the individual. Despite the predominantly totalitarian forms of political organization, humane political goals are inherent in the socialist system. For example, in the USSR, the level of education of the people rose sharply, social security of the population was ensured, the economy, space and military industries, etc. developed, and the crime rate dropped sharply.

Fascism(Italian fascismo, from fascio - bundle, ligament, union), political current, which arose in capitalist countries during the period of the general crisis of capitalism and expresses the interests of the most reactionary and aggressive forces of the imperialist bourgeoisie. Fascism in power is a terrorist dictatorship of the most reactionary forces of monopoly capital, carried out with the aim of preserving the capitalist system.

The most important distinguishing features of fascism- the use of extreme forms of violence to suppress the working class and all working people, militant anti-communism, chauvinism, racism, the widespread use of state-monopoly methods of economic regulation, maximum control over all manifestations of public and private life of citizens, ramified ties with a fairly significant part of the population that does not belong to To ruling classes, the ability, through nationalist and social demagogy, to mobilize and politically activate it in the interests of the exploiting system (the social base is mainly the middle strata capitalist society). Foreign policy- the policy of imperialist conquests.

Fascism was first established in Italy in 1922. Italian fascism gravitated towards the revival of the greatness of the Roman Empire, the establishment of order, and solid state power.

A kind of fascism is national socialism ... As a real political and social system, it emerged in Germany in 1933. Purpose: world domination of the Aryan race. If in communist systems aggressiveness is directed primarily inward - against its own citizens (class enemy), then in National Socialism - outward, against other peoples.

Once in power in Italy and Germany, the fascists placed numerous fascist and pro-fascist organizations abroad under their auspices. In some countries, these organizations began to pose a serious threat to bourgeois democratic regimes. In the period between the two world wars, regimes of the fascist type were established in a number of states of Eastern and Central Europe: Hungary (Horthy regime), Austria, Poland ("sanitation regime"), Romania, the Baltic states, etc.

Under the influence of Italy and Germany, the fascist movement developed in Spain, where, after a bloody civil war 1936-39 biennium the fascist dictatorship of Francisco Franco was established (March 1939) with the military and political support of the Italian and German interventionists. Even earlier, the fascist dictatorship of Salazar was established in Portugal.

Thus, totalitarianism is closed society, not adapted to modern quality renovation, taking into account the new requirements of the constantly changing world.

Authoritarianism- occupies an intermediate position between totalitarianism and democracy. Significant in defining authoritarianism is the nature of relations between the state and the individual - they are built more on coercion than on persuasion. At the same time, the authoritarian regime does not seek to impose a clearly developed ideology on society, allows limited and controlled pluralism in political thinking and actions, and tolerates the existence of opposition.

Autocracy from the Greek. (autokrateia) - autocracy autocracy i.e. unlimited power of one person, does not require a demonstration of loyalty on the part of the population, as under totalitarianism, the absence of open political confrontation is enough for it. However, the regime is merciless to manifestations of real political competition for power, to the actual participation of the population in decision-making on the most important issues of social life. Authoritarianism suppresses basic civil rights.

The following features are inherent in the authoritarian political system:

1) Autocracy (autocracy) or a small number of power holders. They can be one person (monarch, tyrant) or a group of persons (military junta, oligarchic group, etc.).

2) The unlimited power, its not being controlled by the citizens, while the power can rule with the help of laws, but it accepts them at its discretion.

3) reliance (real or potential) on force. An authoritarian regime may not resort to massive repression and may be popular among the general population. However, he has sufficient power to, if necessary, at his discretion, use force and force citizens to obey.

4) Monopolization of power and politics, avoiding political opposition and competition. Under authoritarianism, a limited number of parties, trade unions and other organizations can exist, but only if they are controlled by the authorities.

5) Refusal of total control over society, non-interference outside the political sphere and, above all, in the economy. The authorities are mainly concerned with ensuring their own security, public order, defense, foreign policy, although it can influence the strategy economic development conduct a fairly active social policy without destroying the mechanisms of market self-government.

6) Recruiting the political elite by introducing new members to the elected body without holding by-elections, by appointment from above, and not by competitive electoral struggle.

Based on the above, authoritarianism is a political regime in which unlimited power is concentrated in the hands of one person or a group of persons who do not allow political opposition, but preserve the autonomy of the individual and society outside political spheres... Authoritarianism is quite compatible with respect for all other, except for political, individual rights.

Weaknesses of authoritarianism: complete dependence of politics on the position of the head of state or a group of top leaders, lack of opportunities for citizens to prevent political adventures or arbitrariness, limited political expression of public interests.

Advantages of an authoritarian regime: high ability to ensure political stability and public order, mobilize public resources to solve specific tasks, to overcome the resistance of political opponents.

Authoritarian regimes are very diverse. These are monarchies, dictatorial regimes, military juntas, populist systems of government, etc. Monarchies are already a vanishing category of authoritarian regimes. Not all monarchies are authoritarian. In Europe (Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain), monarchies are, in principle, parliamentary democracies. But when they talk about monarchism as a subtype of authoritarian states, they mean monarchies in the least developed countries where the monarchs are the actual rulers (Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia). Military rule: The military takes power and rules the country. Political activity is either generally prohibited or restricted.

V modern conditions In post-socialist countries, “pure” authoritarianism, which is not based on active mass support and some democratic institutions, can hardly be a tool for progressive reform of society and can turn into a criminal dictatorial regime of personal power.

c) Signs of a democratic regime

Democracy- the most difficult type of political regime. Demos are people and kratos are power. C gr. - People power. Modern democracies, and they exist in about 40 countries.

Characteristic features of a democratic regime:

1) Sovereignty of the people: it is the people who elect their representatives of power and can periodically replace them. Elections must be fair, competitive and regularly held. By "competitive" is meant the presence of various groups or individuals free to stand for candidacy.

2) Periodic election of the main bodies of the state. The government is formed as a result of elections and for a certain, limited period. For the development of democracy, it is not enough to hold regular elections; it is necessary that it be supported by an elected government. V Latin America For example, elections are held frequently, but many Latin American countries are outside democracies. the most common way to remove a president is through a military coup, not an election. Therefore, a necessary condition for a democratic state is that the persons exercising supreme power are elected, and they are elected for a certain, limited period, the change of government should take place as a result of elections, and not at the request of a certain general.

3) Protection of the rights of individuals and minorities. The majority opinion, expressed democratically in elections, is only a necessary condition for democracy, however, it is by no means insufficient. Only the combination of majority rule and the protection of minority rights constitute one of the basic principles of a democratic state. If, however, discriminatory measures are applied against a minority, the regime becomes undemocratic, regardless of the frequency and integrity of the elections and the change in the legally elected government.

4) Equality of rights of citizens to participate in government: freedom to create political parties and other associations to express their will, freedom of opinion, the right to information and to participate in the competition for taking leading positions in the state.

Depending on how the people participate in government, who and how directly performs power functions, democracy is divided into direct, plebiscite and representative.

In direct democracy all citizens themselves are directly involved in the preparation, discussion and decision-making. Such a system can only make practical sense with a relatively small number of people, for example, in community or tribal councils or in local trade union bodies, where all members can gather in one room to discuss issues and decide by consensus or majority vote. The first democracy in the world in Ancient Athens implemented direct democracy through assemblies attended by 5-6 thousand people.

An important channel for citizens' participation in the exercise of power is plebiscite democracy. The difference between it and direct democracy is that direct democracy presupposes the participation of citizens at all the most important stages of the ruling process (in preparing, making political decisions and monitoring their implementation), and in a plebiscite democracy, the possibilities for political influence of citizens are relatively limited, for example, referendums. Citizens are allowed to vote by voting to approve or reject one or another draft law or other decision, which is usually prepared by the president, government, party or initiative group. Opportunities for the participation of the bulk of the population in the preparation of such projects are very small.

The third most common in modern society, the form of political participation is representative democracy . Its essence is that citizens elect their representatives to the authorities, who are called upon to express their interests in making political decisions, in adopting laws and implementing social and other programs. Elected persons in a representative democracy hold office on behalf of the people and are accountable to the people in all their actions.

There are various forms of government in democratic regimes. The fairly common forms of democratic government are the presidential republic and the parliamentary republic.

Hallmark presidential republic is that the president in it simultaneously acts as both the head of state and the head of government. Perhaps the most striking example of presidential democracy is the United States. Executive power is concentrated in the hands of one ruler, i.e. the President of the United States, who is regularly elected every 4 years by all the people. The president appoints cabinet ministers who are accountable only to him and not to parliament. This is the essence of presidential rule. This does not mean that the president is a dictator.

The President has no legislative powers. All legislature belongs to the highest legislative body of the United States - Congress (House of Representatives and Senate). In the exercise of his powers, the President of the United States is to some extent limited by the power of the Congress. Congress decides on budget issues, has the right to cancel any appointments of the President of the United States (veto) and, finally, Congress has the right to initiate the process of "impeachment", i.e. early removal of the president from power (for treason, for violation of the Constitution and other crimes).

The main distinguishing feature parliamentary republic is the formation of a government on a parliamentary basis (usually a parliamentary majority) and its formal responsibility to parliament. Parliament performs a number of functions in relation to the government: forms and supports it; issues laws passed by the government for execution; approves the state budget and thereby establishes the financial framework for the government's activities; exercises control over the government and, if necessary, can express a vote of no confidence in it, which entails either the resignation of the government, or the dissolution of parliament and the holding of early elections. There are 3 main types of parliamentary regimes in the modern world.

The first can be described as a one-party majority in parliament, i.e. when one political party is constantly strong enough to form a government. This is sometimes referred to as the "Westminister Model", referring to the British Parliament, in which a political party has enough 50% of the vote to form a government for the entire duration of an election.

The second type is parliamentary coalition system when the cabinet of ministers is formed on the basis of a coalition (agreement) of various parties, of which none of them has an absolute majority in parliament. Coalitions can be long-term (FRG) and short-term (Italy).

The third type of parliamentary regime often call consensual (consensus). It was proposed by one of the modern political scientists Leibhart, who proposed the concept of a consensual parliamentary regime in order to designate regimes that exist at the expense of a regional or ethnic majority. For example, in Belgium, where the Flemish (the people of the Germanic language group) make up less than 15% of the Belgian population and where, under parliamentary or presidential rule, the French-speaking population would turn into second-class people, it was invented system of pre-planned compromises, i.e. the situation in which the rights of both linguistic groups are protected. To resolve any controversial issues, both sides create a commission of an equal number of representatives of these ethnic groups and try to find a compromise.

Modern democracy- this is the representation of interests, not estates. All citizens in a democratic state, as participants in political life, are equal. Equality is of two kinds - equality before the laws and equality of political rights. A modern democratic state is a state governed by the rule of law, in which the separation of three powers has been implemented in practice and real mechanisms have been created to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.

In modern political science, this concept is usually used with a negative connotation, meaning an authoritarian regime or any other anti-democratic one.

Origin of the term

This concept first appears in the works of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle - ancient greek philosophers. Aristotle, for example, singled out the correct(monarchy, aristocracy, polity) and wrong (tyranny, oligarchy, democracy) regimes.

What are the features of the political regime: characteristics

We can say that the regime is formed as a result of the interaction of many components (institutions) that are related to the political system: the form of government, the form of the administrative-territorial structure of the state, the type of electoral system, the presence or absence of movements in the country.

PR is also determined by:

• the intensity of various social and power processes in the state;
• the dominant type of legitimacy (according to M. Weber's classification: traditional, charismatic, legal);
• the development of social and power traditions, consciousness;
• the dominant type of power-managerial behavior;
• the structuredness of the ruling elite;
• the relationship of the bureaucratic (bureaucratic) apparatus with society.

PR determines the relationship between an individual and the state: it shows the degree of individual freedom in the state (the scope of rights and obligations) and the form (and degree) of personal participation of citizens in the life of the state.

Concepts and types of political regimes

In modern political science, there are two types of PR: democratic and non-democratic. They are differentiated, taking into account different criteria and signs.

Democratic is direct, direct or representative democracy, that is, the rule of the people, exercised for the benefit of the people.

Democracy, like the PR, originated in Ancient Athens in the 6th century BC. e. The heyday of the democratic system fell on the 5th century.

There are two forms of democracy:

• direct - making decisions directly by citizens (at veche, gatherings, people's assembly, referendums);
• representative - decision-making by a representative body chosen by the people (parliament, city assembly, Legislative Assembly).

Undemocratic is OL characterized by an extreme degree of pressure from the authorities on society. There are two main types of undemocratic regimes:

• authoritarian;

Authoritarianism is a PR, in which power is concentrated in the hands of one "force": the army, bureaucracy, religious leader, party, class, individual, family.

• military-bureaucratic authoritarianism (reign of General Pinochet in Chile);
• corporate authoritarianism (F. Franco's rule in Spain);
• postcolonial authoritarianism;
• racial or ethnic democracy (the ideology of apartheid in South Africa);
• the sultanist regime (Iraq under Saddam Hussein);
• pre-Tatar authoritarianism.

Historical and social experience show that the risks of transformation of authoritarianism into totalitarianism are very high. This is a feature of authoritarianism as a PR.

Totalitarianism is PR, in which total control is established over all spheres of society. For the first time this term was used by B. Mussolini in the 20s of the XX century. Totalitarianism can be either the product of the historical development of society (as in Russia), or the product of extraordinary circumstances in which society fell (for example, Germany after the First World War).

There are two types of totalitarianism:

• left (Stalinism, Maoism) - is based on the equality of all people and class values;
• right (fascism, Nazism) - is based on the natural inequality of all people, nations, races and national values.

Each type and type of PR is characterized by a certain social base, a certain state structure, the party system, the type of economic system, certain relations between the authorities and the opposition and the actions of the punitive authorities. Each type and type of PR is based on a certain power principle and ideology that characterizes the existence of the rights and freedoms of citizens and the volume of their implementation.

Anarchy

Anarchy is a special type of PR, which is established in difficult, transitional periods of the development of society. This regime is characterized by the weakening of power, the severing of ties between the state and members of society. Anarchy cannot be considered a kind of intermediate state of society, it is an independent PR, a regime of complete anarchy and the absence of dominant power.

Criteria for political regimes (main features)

Examples of existence (historical outline)

Over the long history of the existence of mankind in a particular society (state), there were different PR.

A striking example of totalitarianism:

• Italian fascism;
• German National Socialism;
• Soviet socialism;
• Chinese Maoism.

• the military PR (junta) Pinochet in Chile;
• the theocracy of Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran;
• the regime of the civil (monarchical) dictatorship in the countries of the Arab East.

Democratic PR has been established in almost all modern states..

ETC - important element the political system of society. It provides

In modern societies, clean regimes are rare. Most often it is a mixture of pure democracy and elements of authoritarianism.

Bibliographic description:

I.A. Nesterova Types of political regimes [ Electronic resource] // Educational encyclopedia site

In legal science it is determined that any political regime cannot legitimately exist without legislative consolidation and justification. In science, there is a clear classification of political regimes.

Considering the types of political regimes, one cannot ignore such a concept as a regime. So, the term "regime" itself has a wide range of interpretations both in psychologists, philosophy, and in law. Being an interdisciplinary concept, the mode leaves a wide field for further research within the framework of various sciences.

The term regime has French roots (from the French Régime - management, command, leadership). This term at the interdisciplinary level, it is interpreted as conditions of work, activity, existence of something.

In modern legal science, there is a need to revise the concept of regime as a legal category due to the outdated conceptual apparatus and conservative rhetoric about each type of political regime.

Political regime concept

In modern science, a political regime means a set of methods for the implementation of political power by the state. The category "political regime" defines the measure of political freedom in society, as well as the degree of realization of rights and freedoms, the system of methods of exercising state power, the attitude of state power to the legal foundations of its own activities.

The political regime is characterized by the methods of exercising political power, the degree of political freedom in society, the openness or closedness of the elites from the point of view of social mobility, the actual state legal status personality.

Often in the legal literature you can find the statement that the political regime is one of the component parts forms of state. For example, A.V. Malko and N.A. Vlasenko. A.I. Denisov. He focuses on the aspect that the political regime characterizes not the form of the state, but its essence. However, as you know, the essence of the state reflects the essence of state power and its affiliation.

So, let's bring all of the above to a common denominator. The concept of a political regime itself has existed for a long time. It is key for the formation of ideas about the main systems of power. By what political regime is implemented in the state, one can judge the true picture of the political structure of society.

In modern conditions, it has been unequivocally established that it is the political regime that characterizes the political climate that exists in this or that country in a specific period of its historical development.

Classification of political regimes

Modern science recognizes several approaches to the classification of political regimes.

A different classification implies the presence of the following political regimes:

• democratic
• antidemocratic

Within the framework of this classification, the democratic regime is divided into the following types:

1. Direct democracy
2. Plebiscite democracy
3. Representative democracy

We will separately consider the anti-democratic regime and its types within the framework of this classification considered by L. V. Melikhova.

An anti-democratic regime is a political regime characterized by non-observance of human rights and freedoms and the establishment of the dictatorship of one or several persons.

In turn, anti-democratic regimes are subdivided into totalitarian, authoritarian and military. This is reflected in the figure.

A totalitarian regime is a political regime characterized by the complete subordination of society to the power of the ruling elite, organized into a military-bureaucratic apparatus and headed by a leader-dictator.

In states headed by a military group that seized power as a result of a military coup, a military regime dominates.

Literature

1. Vlasenko N.A., Malko A.V. Theory of state and law: textbook. manual // SPS "Garant"
2. Denisov A.I. The essence and forms of the state - M .: Izd-vo Mosk. University, 1960 .-- 67 p.
3. E.A. Klyukina The concept of the political regime and classification criteria // [Electronic regime] Access mode: https://www.sovremennoepravo.ru/m/articles/view/
4. Melikhova L. V. Fundamentals of law - Rostov n / a publishing house "Phoenix". 2000 - 416 p ..