Council 1: What is totalitarian democracy

Culture and Society

Council 1: What is totalitarian democracy

Totalitarian democracy is also called imitationdemocracy, since under this political regime the people's power is only declared, but in practice ordinary citizens do not take part in the government or participate minimally.

Totalitarianism and its Signs

Totalitarian democracy is one of the formstotalitarianism, but at the same time externally it retains the attributes of a democratic system: the changeability of the head of state, the electivity of government bodies, universal suffrage, etc. Totalitarianism is such a system of state structure that involves the establishment of total control of all aspects of society as a whole and everyone in particular. At the same time, the state compulsorily regulates the life of all members of society, completely depriving them of the right to independence, not only in actions, but also in thoughts. The main signs of totalitarianism: the existence of a single state ideology that all the inhabitants of the country must support; strict censorship; state control of the mass media; relations in the country are based on the following position: "Only what is recognized by the authorities is allowed, everything else is prohibited"; Police control over the whole society is conducted to identify dissenters; bureaucracy in all spheres of life. In totalitarianism, the border between the state and society has actually been erased, since everything is controlled and strictly regulated. The area of a person's personal life is very limited.

Totalitarian Democratism in History

The reasons for the formation of totalitarian democracy beforeare still debatable. Such systems are formed, as a rule, after the abrupt establishment of democracy in countries with an authoritarian or totalitarian regime: a political coup, revolution, etc. Usually in these cases the population is still not politically competent enough, which is often abused by people who came to power. Despite the fact that the authorities elect a popular vote, the results of these elections are always predictable in advance. And this stability is for the most part provided not through direct fraud. The administrative resource, the control of the media, public organizations, the economy and investment - these are the tools that the ruling elite enjoy with such a system as totalitarian democracy. A vivid example of such a political system in history can serve as the state structure of the USSR. Despite the proclamation of the constitution and the declaration of universal equality, in fact the country was ruled by the highest ranks of the Communist Party. The political system in the Soviet Union is thoroughly analyzed in the book of the famous French philosopher-humanist Raymond Aron Democracy and Totalitarianism.

Tip 2: What is bureaucracy?

Bureaucracy is people, professionallydealing with governance issues and carrying out decisions of the highest authorities. In their activities they follow clear rules and procedures. Also this term is a management system based on formalism and administrative red tape.

For the first time the concept of "bureaucracy" appeared in 1745year. The French economist Vincent de Gourne called such officials, taking away real power from the monarch or from the people. German sociologist Max Weber, on the contrary, saw in the bureaucracy the necessary control system. He understood the rational work of the structures under it, where each element works most efficiently. Bureaucratic structures existed even in the most ancient states. Professional management was distinguished by Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. In imperial China, there was a complex hierarchy of officials of different ranks, who had enormous power over the subjects. In Russia in the 16th century, specialized government bodies, the so-called "orders," began to emerge. The reforms of Peter I set a new impetus to the development of the bureaucracy. He replaced the hereditary boyars with professional officials. The Senate appeared, the supreme bureaucratic body. Bureaucracy has repeatedly tried to destroy in the era of bourgeois revolutions, but it was not possible to create a system of government without professionalization. Therefore, bureaucratic structures are still not only preserved, but also strengthened as a result of the complexity of management processes. Bureaucracy is a complex social phenomenon and its role in a democratic system is ambiguous. Usually this word is used in a negative sense. And in most cases this is true. The bureaucracy is distinguished by inefficiency, incompetence, red tape, manipulation, anxiety only about one's own well-being. On the other hand, everyone is aware of its power as a structure that implements the decisions of the authorities. In the bureaucracy, many see a threat to a democratic political structure. It is peculiar to it to turn into a privileged stratum, far from the interests of the bulk of the population. This is most clearly manifested in the conditions of a totalitarian regime. At the same time, rational bureaucracy is one of the most important social inventions of civilization. No modern state can do without a developed management system. Without it, social life will simply stop. An independent and strong bureaucracy is necessary to prevent corruption in politics, to preserve many democratic procedures. In the system of managerial relations, the place of bureaucracy can be defined as an intermediate between the population and the political elite. It in its activities connects these two layers and promotes the implementation of guidelines. This is its necessary role in society and the state.

Tip 3: What is an Industrial Revolution

Industrial revolution - a huge change in thesocial, economic and political life of the country, which are caused by the transition from manual, manufactory mode of production to large-scale introduction of machinery.

Industrial revolution began in England insixties of the eighteenth century. The prerequisite for this event was the English bourgeois revolution of the seventeenth century. It gave impetus to the development of capitalist relations. Moreover, by this time, the contradiction between the growing demand for consumer goods and the inability to fully meet these growing needs was being increased only by manual production. Especially these problems concerned labor-intensive fabric production. At the same time, a breakthrough in science and technology begins, and the inventions obtained immediately find application in the case. There is a gradual replacement of the means of organizing labor by mechanical machines. For example, in the seventies of the eighteenth century, "Jenny" spinning wheels became widespread in England. Gradually formed a gap between the production of yarn and weaving, which was still tame. Then in 1785 the loom was invented and patented, and by 1801 the first weaving mill was already functioning in the UK. The successful mechanization of fabric production gave impetus to the development of other industries, for example, dyeing, printing. In order to successfully sell the goods, mechanical transport began to develop. At the same time small handicraft production gradually began to fade, as they could not compete with large machine enterprises. The industrial revolution led to the complete separation of industry from agriculture. Large industrial centers began to be formed. The more machine production grew, the more intensified the interclass contradictions. The society was divided into the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. In Russia, the industrial revolution began much later, at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The reason for this was serfdom, since the development of capitalist relations requires a huge number of wage workers. The coup, as in England, began with the production of fabrics, then the rest of the industry was affected. After the abolition of serfdom in 1861, the development of industry rapidly advanced. In the eighties of the nineteenth century, the proletariat in Russia was finally consolidated as a class.

Council 4: What is democracy?

Democracy (from the Greek. demokratía, from demos - people and krátos - power) literally means democracy. This is a state system, fixed constitutionally, under which citizens of the country have the right to participate in its administration. This right they realize through participation in elections, referendums. This definition also characterizes social movements, political courses and directions of socio-political thought.

Instructions

Democracy is direct and indirect. In the first case, the state is administered directly by its citizens. In the second - the country is governed by deputies to whom the population delegates these powers. In this case, the management takes place on behalf of the people.

Democracy has its defining features. The main characteristic feature of the democratic system is the freedom of man, which is elevated to the rank of law. Ie the operation of any normative act and document adopted by public authorities should not restrict this freedom, infringe it.

Democracy implies that the government should notbe concentrated in one hand. Therefore, power has different levels - regional and local. They directly interact with the population and are called upon to take into account its wishes and aspirations in their activities, to be guided by them. Any citizen residing in a given territory has the right to direct interaction with government officials.

The full interaction of citizens and authorities is notis limited neither by religious, nor ideological views, nor by nationality. A democratic society and the state assumes that all its members and citizens are equal. In such a country and society, everyone is given freedom of speech and the opportunity to create and participate in any religious, social or political organization.

The people have the right to express their opinion byreferendums and carry out a free choice of authorities and the head of state. This is not only a right, but also a civic duty. The participation of the population, which is a conglomeration of people with different religious views and different mentalities, allows all groups of the population to realize their opportunity to govern the country. This allows you to take into account the opinions and needs of all citizens.

Democracy is the version of the state structure in which consensus can be reached between all strata and public associations representing the state.

Tip 5: Signs of totalitarianism as a political regime

The concept of "totalitarianism" in the literal sensemeans "all", "full", "whole". In every state where this political regime arose and developed, it had its own specific features. However, for all its multifacetedness, the totalitarian regime has a fairly clear set of basic common features that reflect the essence of this form of government.

Instructions

Totalitarianism is almost always not legitimate. It never begins in the country after free and democratic elections. The establishment of totalitarianism usually occurs after coups d'état, revolutions, coups and usurpation of power.

Under a totalitarian regime, alienation takes placepeople of the country from power and authorities. The population can not influence the state, as a result of which the authorities receive unlimited, uncontrolled powers for themselves. This leads to total bureaucratization of all processes and the collapse of civil society. The authorities begin to establish their rules not only in the political spheres of society, but also in literature and art. There is a violent establishment of morality and morality adopted by the state.

Totalitarianism most often turns its citizensin state serfs, establishing their personal dependence on the state, forcing them to work for the benefit of the country free of charge. Dominant methods of governance are violence, terror and coercion.

Under a totalitarian regime, the country is being pumpedan atmosphere of general suspicion and mistrust. Denunciation is encouraged. At the state level, the image of a general external or internal enemy is formed. The notion that the state is constantly threatened is being introduced to the masses. Gradually, a totalitarian state begins to resemble a besieged camp, which in turn leads to the militarization of society and the economy.

In a totalitarian state it completely disappearslegal system. The application of the current legislative acts is no longer universal, the authorities begin to use the laws as it pleases.

All power under totalitarian regimeconcentrates in the hands of the ruling elite and its closest associates. The principle of separation of powers is completely absent. The people have no right to take part in the life of the country, all the activities of the state apparatus are covered with a halo of mystery.

In a totalitarian state, onePolitical party, which practically covers all spheres of life in the country. A characteristic feature of the totalitarian regime is the creation of the personality cult of the leader. The deification of the ruler acquires hypertrophied scales.

Under a totalitarian regime, politicization takes placeall processes taking place in society. Ideology permeates all spheres of the life of the people. The principle of "divide and conquer" is put into practice. The society is artificially divided into "one's own" and "another's". As a result, in a totalitarian state, there is a constant opposition of some social groups to others.

In a totalitarian state there is a complete disregard for individual human rights and freedoms. Any dissidence is thwarted in the most cruel way. The state itself is isolated from the surrounding world.

The economy of the totalitarian regime rests ondomination of state property and operates in the mode of a planned system of economic management. Widely used methods of violence by the state in relation to private entrepreneurs.

Council 6: What is liberal democracy

The development of political reality in countriesWestern Europe and North America stipulates the importance of understanding the true meaning of the phenomenon of liberal democracy. Any influential political movement pretends to implement the principles of democracy, but often the real activity of such movements is very far from the true goals of democracy.

Historical essay

Liberal democracy is a concept, so oftenused in our time and therefore become already familiar, once was an unthinkable and impossible phenomenon. And it is connected solely with the fact that until the middle of the XIX century the ideas of liberalism and democracy were in some contradiction with each other. The basic discrepancy went on the line of determining the object of protection of political rights. The liberals sought to provide equal rights not to all citizens, but, mainly, the class of owners and the aristocracy. A person possessing property is the foundation of a society that must be protected from the monarch's arbitrariness. Ideologists of democracy deprivation of the poor electoral law was perceived as a form of enslavement. Democracy is the formation of power based on the will of the majority, the whole people. In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville's work Democracy in America was published. The model of liberal democracy presented by him showed the possibility of building a society in which personal freedom, private property and democracy could coexist.

The main characteristics of liberal democracy

Liberal democracy is a form ofsocio-political structure, in which a representative democracy is the basis for a rule-of-law state. With such a model of democracy, a person stands out from society and the state, and the main focus is on creating guarantees for individual freedom that can prevent any power suppression by the individual. The goal of liberal democracy is equal provision of every citizen with the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, private property and personal inviolability. This political system, which recognizes the rule of law, the separation of powers, the protection of fundamental freedoms, necessarily implies the existence of an "open society". "Open society" is characterized by tolerance and pluralism, it makes possible the coexistence of a variety of socio-political views. Periodically held elections enable each of the existing groups to gain power. A characteristic feature of liberal democracy, emphasizing freedom of choice, is the fact that the political group in power is not obliged to share all aspects of the ideology of liberalism. But regardless of the ideological views of the group, the principle of the rule of law remains unchanged.