Political norms: an example. What are political traditions?

The development of the state largely depends on how fundamental and elaborated the rules governing certain processes occurring at the level of political institutions and society. What is the specificity of the relevant mechanisms? What is the role of political norms for the Russian state?

Definition of term

The subject matter has a complex structure and a noticeable discussion component. The first aspect in which it is useful to consider political norms is the definition. There is a widespread interpretation that the term under consideration should be understood as measures of regulation of activities in the sphere of public administration and the field of interaction between government institutions, society and individuals. There are different types of political norms: they can be represented in the form of laws, traditions, customs, values, spiritual and cultural priorities. They can be supplemented by principles - elements that are not of a regulatory nature, but often play no less significant role than the norms themselves.

But regardless of the particular variety, the regulation measures in question relate to the political sphere of society. That is, they affect power relationships, electoral processes, the work of socio-political associations, the activities of social and ethnic groups. Political principles and norms can be realized at various levels - national, regional, municipal.

The regulatory measures in question are established to ensure control by the state and society over communications with the participation of individuals, classes, representatives of political parties and other public associations. Another important function performed by political norms is to protect the interests of the state and citizens from internal destructive factors and external influence.

Adjacent nature of norms

It can be noted that the regulation measures in question are very close, and in some cases identical to the sources of regulation of processes in society - social norms. In a number of cases, it is not easy to distinguish them due to the fact that the object of control is the same, and the content of the regulatory provisions is similar. Political, social norms are often considered in a single context.

In accordance with one of the interpretations, the considered measures of regulation are a special case of social. This point of view is close to those researchers who consider society to be primary in relation to the state. Similarly, legal norms are understood - that is, those set forth in the laws. That is, whatever this or that regulatory mechanism, it will somehow relate to the public sphere. Political and legal norms will be private social options.

Norms and values

Let's consider how the considered measures of regulation and political values are correlated. Which, like the principles, can also play an important practical role. Political values are guidelines that are more relevant to morality than to law. Following them implies that the subject of the corresponding activities - for example, the authority or a specific official in public office - will show its will not because of demands dictated by authority, but because of following some universal humanitarian, humanitarian considerations.

Ideally, political values, if we talk about modern environments in which domestic and international relations are realized, should reflect the interests of citizens first and not of the authorities. This is ensured by democratic procedures associated with the formation of certain institutions of public administration. If they function at the proper level, then there will be no problems with the compatibility of political values and the interests of society.

Norms and traditions

At the beginning of the article we noted that one of the varieties of political norms can be traditions. Their main difference from the principles is that they have a character that does not imply their alternative understanding. If the principles somehow need an explanation, then tradition, as a rule, no. They are understandable to most participants in political communications.

Bearers of traditions can be a variety of subjects, for example, politicians who hold a specific position. It can be a society that delegates to them power or administrative functions. It can be a political or other public association that follows certain traditions in the course of working with voters or in the process of solving current tasks.

Significance of traditions

In some cases, the elements of regulation under consideration can replace legal norms. For example, due to their lack of or inadequate elaboration and, as a result, inefficiency. In this case, tradition is sometimes referred to as "legal custom". For example, the internal policy of Russia assumes their regular involvement, if it is a question of legal relations with the participation of subjects from the national republics. The legislator in this case is easier to trust the models of behavior that have developed in local societies than to develop a separate legal norm.

Traditions can also be an element of a proactive adaptation of society to new realities or the influence of certain factors that the current legislative framework does not provide. At the same time, if the involvement of traditions as a whole becomes an adequate reaction of the political subject to changes, they can well become the basis for the formation of relevant legal provisions.

Tradition is the most important tool for broadcasting the experience of participation in various political communications accumulated by society in the course of historical development. Their presence contributes to the development in the society of models of response to the factors dangerous from the point of view of state stability. For example, in the case of a tense foreign policy situation, a society that has had historical experience of participating in large-scale conflicts can show willingness to mobilize all its forces to save its country.

The influence of traditions on the spheres of public communications

Political traditions influence not only the sphere in which power relations are realized and state institutions function, but also in other areas of social communications. The population of the Russian Federation, which is traditionally characterized by a high level of patriotic sentiment, is likely to be ready, for example, not to buy imported goods that have been sanctioned. In this sense, the influence of the tradition - love of the Motherland - at the level of business is traced, although at first glance there is little in common between these spheres.

Political traditions, according to many researchers, shape people's behavioral guidelines, which can predetermine the fundamental nature of attitudes toward the realization of certain activities. A person in the event of the appearance of certain factors that have influenced the formation of a tradition in the past can without an extra hint determine for himself the optimal sequence of actions in a given situation. For example, when there are people who support the abolition of the licensing institute among the candidates for a high position in the public system of government, the subjects who nominate them will remember how much this measure in the conditions of the capitalist economy in the Russian Federation under construction can reduce the quality of many goods and services and will not appoint this person To the appropriate position.

Traditions can play an important socializing and educational role. That is, people in the process of growing up and getting involved in public communications, in the presence of strong political traditions, will not need to explain things that suggest their active participation in certain components of state construction. What kind of scenarios can be relevant here? For example, a person brought up on strong political traditions of respect for the history of his country, most likely, will not shy away from the army, but will gladly go to serve with it. He will strive to master the demanded profession in order to benefit the state.

Traditions as a factor of strengthening statehood

Traditions are an important factor in strengthening statehood, especially if we talk about its Russian model. Thus, the modern principles of building inter-federative relations in the Russian Federation did not appear accidentally: they have a long historical tradition, in fact from the time of the Empire.

The fact that the peoples of Russia feel comfortable and loyal to the central government is determined, as the researchers believe, not by the perfection of the legal framework, but by the fact that this is a completely fundamental historical tradition. The nations that make up the RF understand perfectly well that, say, with a greater level of federalization, they can not cope with the increased burden on the economy, with the emergence of new social problems that are not characteristic of the past.

Traditions are especially noteworthy in that, despite their fundamental nature, they are amenable to a careful modification under the influence of various factors - in this case those connected with the development of the state. Therefore, they are often considered by researchers as the most effective regulatory mechanisms, as the most correct policy norms. An example we noted above is respect for the history of our country.

The Moral Aspect

Political norms can also be represented by moral attitudes. Their main sign is the expression of will, not dictated by any prescriptions, traditions or principles. The subject of political communications can make a decision based on a personal desire to help a partner. Or, at least, not to worsen his situation.

Morality can be predetermined either by an individual's view of the situation or by attitudes that play a significant role in society or its individual groups or associations - parties, trade union organizations, ideological circles.

Legal norms in politics

Law and politics are spheres that are closely related. Most of the decisions that are taken by the authorities in modern states, one way or another are carried out within the framework of legally binding mechanisms. Legal norms can be classified as key for the policy sphere. But the important thing is how they will be interpreted. Also, law and politics are phenomena that have one fundamental dissimilarity. What is it manifested in?

The fact is that in processes involving government institutions, very often proactive decisions are taken, for which a legal base is simply not developed or it is characterized by clearly obsolete provisions. As a rule, a precedent precedes the publication of an act by a legislator, which has become an occasion for the development of a new legal norm or for the correction of the existing one. Therefore, politicians often make decisions that may not be consistent in the current legislative regulation. And this becomes a frequent reason for discussions, for accusing certain officials of non-compliance with the "rules of law".

However, the legislative aspect of the regulation of political communications is very important from the point of view of ensuring the stability of state institutions. It is impossible to do without it at the present stage of the development of the world community. That is why in the majority of developed countries there is a powerful legislative base regulating, where possible, various areas of political communications. The main source of relevant norms is usually the provisions of the Constitution or the code of laws that supersedes it. The remaining legal acts are based on them.

Certainly, norms can be characterized by simultaneous influence of legislative provisions, morals, traditions or principles. In this case, we can talk, for example, about a fair law that corresponds to historical prerequisites and contemporary realities. Perhaps this is an ideal scenario, but all trustworthy politicians are eager for it.

The criteria for classifying norms as political

On the basis of what signs, what or other regulatory measures should be understood as political norms? An example of this type of source is the Law on Elections of the Russian Federation. This legal act directly relates to the political sphere, namely, the procedures associated with the delegation of authority by the population of the country to the level of federal authorities.

If we consider Russian traditions, which of them can be understood as political norms? An example of this type of regulatory system is the support of the population of the Russian Federation for a centralized model of public administration, a strong federal center. It is this tradition, when key decisions must be made in Moscow, many political scientists explain the fact that Russians choose parties and candidates with a conservative philosophy that form their programs with an emphasis on maintaining the vertical of power. This tradition has been in force for a long time, and it has historical explanations. Russia has always been a de facto unitary state with centripetal political trends due to the specifics of its formation. Russia's domestic policy is largely based on this tradition. The population consciously delegates the bulk of Moscow's power authority, but expects the relevant results from the capital's decisions. Contemporary mass political parties - United Russia, the Communist Party, the LDPR - somehow assume in the course of implementing their programs the adherence to this tradition. All key decisions, regardless of who wins the parliamentary elections, are accepted in Moscow.

Among the moral principles , one can also find political norms. An example is the establishment of the country's government to write off foreign debts in relation to countries that objectively can not repay loans. It seems that from the point of view of law, the state has the right to demand a debt in full. Moreover, the political tradition can characterize the lender as a principal collector of all arrears. But the scenario is not excluded, in which the authorities of the creditor country, by virtue of moral principles, will decide to write off the debt.