Types of political processes. The structure of the political process

The development of any state is a process that can consist of very different components. It involves the decision of the authorities of a variety of tasks, the participation of the widest range of actors. The same can be said about one of the aspects of state building - the development of the political system. It is also built into the process. What can be its characteristics?

What is a political process?

Let us explore the notion of a political process. What can be its definition? In Russian science, this is understood as the sequence of events, phenomena and actions characterizing the interrelationships of various actors - people, organizations, authorities - in the sphere of politics.

The process under consideration can take place at different levels and in different spheres of social life. So, for example, it can characterize communications between subjects within the same authority or the entire state system, take place at the municipal, regional or federal level.

The concept of a political process may suggest a fairly broad interpretation of the corresponding term. Moreover, each of its interpretations can mean the formation of independent categories within the framework of the phenomenon under consideration. Thus, different types of political processes are distinguished, which can be characterized by considerable dissimilarity among themselves. Let us consider this feature in more detail.

Classification of political processes

In order to investigate the types of political processes, it is first of all necessary to determine the possible grounds for classifying this phenomenon. What criteria can be applied here?

In the Russian science, the approach is widespread, according to which the political process can be subdivided into internal political and foreign policy - depending on the essence of key actors directly influencing its course.

Another reason for classifying political processes is referring them to voluntary or controlled ones. Here the described phenomenon is considered in terms of the characteristics of the mechanisms of the participation of subjects in the relevant communications.

Identify such forms of political process as open and shadow. The key criterion here is the publicity of the actors that influence the relevant phenomena.

There are revolutionary and evolutionary types of political processes. The key criterion in this case is the time during which certain changes are realized at the communication level of the subjects, and in many cases the methods by which they are implemented.

Political processes are also divided into stable and volatile. In this case, it matters how stable and predictable the behavior of the subjects that affect the course of the phenomenon under consideration can be.

Let us now study the specifics of the development of political processes within the framework of the noted classification in more detail.

Foreign policy and internal political processes

Thus, the first basis for classifying the phenomenon under consideration is attributing its varieties to foreign policy or internal politics. The process, attributed to the first type, involves the participation of subjects directly related to the institutions of power and society that operate within a single state. It can be people occupying any positions in government bodies, heads of enterprises, public structures, parties or ordinary citizens. The foreign policy process assumes that its course is influenced by subjects of foreign origin - heads of state, foreign corporations and institutions.

Some researchers highlight communications that are carried out exclusively at the international level. Thus, the world political process is formed. Events and phenomena that are characteristic of him can at the same time influence the state of affairs in individual countries, for example, when it comes to debates about writing off foreign debts for a country, or imposing sanctions.

Voluntary and controlled processes

The next basis on which certain types of political processes are defined is the attribution of the phenomena considered to voluntary or controlled. In the first case, it is assumed that the actors influencing the course of the relevant events act on the basis of personal political will, guided by their convictions and priorities. This can be expressed, for example, in the participation of people in the election of the head of state. The appearance on them is voluntary, as is the choice of the candidate. Controlled political processes assume that the actors that influence them act on the basis of the requirements of the law or, for example, because of the administrative influence of the authorized structures. In practice, this can be expressed, for example, in the presence of visas required by one state for the entry of citizens of another: thus, the migration aspect of the international political process is controlled.

Open and Shadow Processes

The next basis for classifying the phenomenon under consideration is attributing its varieties to open or shadow varieties. Political processes of the first type assume that the actors that influence it conduct activities publicly. In most developed countries, this is what happens: in particular, people choose the president from among candidates who are known to everyone. The procedures for electing the head of state are fixed in the laws and are available to everyone for review. The president, whom the people have chosen, has the powers known to all and implements them. But there are countries in which senior officials are also elected, however, non-public actors, whose essence is incomprehensible to ordinary citizens, can take real political decisions, and access to relevant information is closed. In the first case, the political process will be open, in the second - shadow.

Revolutionary and evolutionary political processes

Political processes can differ depending on the methods by which their subjects perform certain activities, as well as the rate of change that characterizes certain aspects of communication. Regarding evolutionary processes: methods, as a rule, are based on the provisions of sources of law - laws, regulations, orders. Their change presupposes the use of quite lengthy parliamentary and administrative procedures. But in the case of instability in the state, sources, which are predetermined by the methods used by the subjects of the political process, can become slogans, manifestos, demands that are not relevant to the laws in force. As a result, events and phenomena that are not characteristic of the first scenario are possible. Thus, a revolutionary political process is being formed. It often happens that with this significant changes affect the entire structure of government.

Stable and volatile processes

The political process - in society, in power structures, on the international arena - can be characterized by stability or, conversely, volatility. In the first case, the subjects influencing the relevant events and phenomena will rely on norms and customs that do not change noticeably for a long time.

In the second scenario, it is possible to refer to sources containing provisions that can be freely interpreted or changed due to preferences of subjects of the political process.

Structural components of the political process

Let us now study the structural aspect of the phenomenon under consideration. What are the common theses of Russian researchers concerning this issue? The structure of the political process most often involves the inclusion of the following components:

- subject (authority, public, political structure or specific citizen, capable of influencing the course of relevant events and phenomena);

- an object (the subject's activity area, characterizing the purpose of his actions, priorities, preferences);

- the methods on which the subject relies in solving his tasks;

- resources at the disposal of the subject of the political process.

We will study in more detail the specifics of each of the marked items.

The essence of the subjects of the political process

So, the structure of the political process involves the inclusion of subjects in it. These are most often the authorities as independent institutions or specific officials. The political process in Russia, as many researchers note, is characterized by a significant role for the individual in the relevant sphere of communications. The President can play a key role throughout the country, the head of the region in the region, and the mayor in the city.

The objects of the political process

Their nature can be different. So, some researchers consider economic and political processes in a single context, considering the first kind of objects for the latter. The development of the national economic system, business, the solution of problems of employment of citizens - these problems are relevant for any state.

Accordingly, the goal of the subjects of the political process, which are the highest officials, can be the achievement of positive results in the relevant areas of work. That is, the economy in this case will be the object of the political process.

Methods of political process

The essence of the methods in question can also vary considerably. The subject of power, called to solve the tasks of modernizing the economic system of the state and other problems, must first of all somehow get his job. In this case, we are talking about methods, based on which a person can take power into his own hands.

The political process in Russia assumes that such will be elections - at the level of the municipality, the region or the country as a whole. In turn, the actual solution of tasks, for example, on the modernization of the economy will be implemented already on the basis of a different method - lawmaking. For example, the head of state may initiate the adoption of certain legal acts aimed at stimulating the development of the country's economy.

Resources of the political process

The authority may have the most effective methods of solving the assigned tasks, but if it does not have the necessary resources, then the plans will not be implemented. In what form can the corresponding component of the political process be presented?

First of all, this is, of course, capital. If we talk about politics, it could be budgetary funds or borrowed funds. The term "resource" can also be interpreted somewhat differently - as a source for maintaining the legitimacy of power. This will not necessarily be finance. Such a resource can become the will of people, citizens of the state. Thus, a socio-political process is formed, presupposing a constant interaction of power and society. At the same time, by analogy with the financial sphere, the resource in this case can be understood as a credit of trust on the part of citizens, which the subject of public administration should justify.

Thus, the term "political process" we are considering can be understood, on the one hand, as a set of events and phenomena that are observed at one or another level of communication, and on the other hand as a category with a complex structure that includes quite dissimilar elements. In turn, some components of the political process will also be characterized by complexity, and their essence can be interpreted through a variety of approaches.