The current political situation in Russia is characterized by the formation of a democratic regime, the main feature of which is the presence of political and ideological pluralism, the rule of law and civil society. This process is complex and time-consuming. One of its most important manifestations can be the formation of such institutions as a multi-party political system and a state apparatus responsible to the people.
The party system and its essence
The political system of any state is an extremely complex mechanism that includes many different elements. One of its connecting elements is the party system, which is not only the totality of the parties of a given state, but also the social and legal mechanisms of interaction between them, as well as the degree of understanding by citizens of the necessity and importance of their existence.
Main types of party systems
Most Western political scientists and social researchers have long come tothe conclusion that the presence of a particular party system quite accurately reflects the political development of society. Thus, a multi-party system testifies both to the development of the social structure and to the high degree of influence of civil society on the decisions of state authorities. On the contrary, one-party system is an invariable sign of a totalitarian society, indicating that it is much easier for people to shift responsibility to officials than to take it upon themselves.
In a number of states (for example, in the USA and Great Britain), a two-party system has been operating for a relatively long time. At the same time, bipartisanship does not at all mean the existence of just such a number of parties. It's just that the real struggle is between the leading political forces, for other parties and movements there are practically no chances to come to power.
Multi-party system and its features
Features of a multi-party system include both external differences from other systems, and a complex internal essence. The former include the presence of more than two parties, most of which have real chances to come to power, developed electoral legislation, the active work of civil society institutions, and the turnover of the political elite.
Internal features stem from the fact that the essence of a multi-party system is a complex compromise between a huge number of participants. This is the most public system built on the basis of competition and mutual respect for each other. It allows everyonea citizen to find exactly that political force that will most fully represent his interests and the interests of the people around him. This is a multi-party system that forces every citizen to be constantly interested in what is happening in the country.
Classic type
The multi-party system exists in various varieties. It depends not only on the party structure, but also on the political tradition and political culture existing in a given society.
Classic is the so-called multi-party fragmentation, which currently exists in countries such as Denmark, Austria, Belgium. In this system, there is no party leader, none of the political forces receives an absolute majority in the elections, therefore it is forced to join certain coalitions. This system is unstable, as a result of which it tends to move to another state.
Other varieties of multi-party systems
One of the most stable states of the political system is associated with bloc multi-party system. This multi-party system, operating, for example, in France, divides all the main political forces into several main blocks. Such a structure forces the parties and their leaders to make certain concessions with their allies, to be more balanced in the preparation of election programs and internal party discipline.
Finally, there is a multi-party system in which one party plays a key role,largest association. Here, the opposition forces are fragmented and unable to offer citizens a clear alternative. The main disadvantage of such a regime, which is typical, for example, for India and Sweden, is that it most often leads to stagnation in political life and the maturation of aspirations for revolutionary changes in the depths of society.
The formation of a multi-party system in Russia: the pre-revolutionary period
The multi-party system in Russia began to take shape much later than in most developed countries of Western Europe and America. The main reason for this was the serfdom that prevailed for several centuries with a pronounced autocratic power.
The reforms of the sixties of the XIX century led not only to rapid economic growth, but also to noticeable changes in the political arena of the country. This, above all, refers to the process of sharp politicization of society, when different social strata were looking for an opportunity to influence the autocracy, which was gradually losing its influence.
The multi-party system in Russia dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when more than fifty parties took shape in less than a decade. Of course, this process was directly related to the turbulent events of the first Russian revolution and the publication of the Manifesto of October 17, 1905. Among the most notable political organizations, it is worth highlighting the RSDLP, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Octobrists, the Union of the Russian People and the Party of Socialist Revolutionaries.
At the same time, it is worth noting that the formation of a multi-party system in our countrytook place in conditions of serious social changes, and before the revolution this process was never completed. The main obstacles here were a complex multi-stage election system, unequal conditions for parties in political activity, as well as the continued dominance of the autocracy in the political arena.
Soviet period
With the coming to power in October 1917 of the revolutionary-minded Bolshevik Party, the activities of all other political associations began to gradually curtail. By the summer of 1918, the RSDLP(b) remained the only legally operating political party, all the rest were either closed or dissolved. For many decades, a monopoly of one force was established in the country.
The multi-party system in the USSR began to revive in the late 1980s, when, in connection with perestroika and the policy of democratization of society, opposition political movements began to appear in the country. This process went especially fast after the abolition in 1990 of the sixth article of the Constitution, which guaranteed the dominant position of the CPSU.
Already in the first months after the famous March Congress of People's Deputies, the Ministry of Justice of the USSR registered about twenty political parties and movements. By the time the state collapsed, there were already more than sixty of them.
The formation of a multi-party system in Russia: the current stage
The formation of a multi-party system in Russia moved to a qualitatively new level after the adoption in December 1993 of a newConstitution. It is here, in the thirteenth article, that such a political and legal institution as a multi-party system is fixed. It implies the existence of an unlimited number of parties, which, on the one hand, have the right to legally fight for power, and on the other hand, must answer for their actions to the voters.
There is currently no official ideology in Russia, so political parties can have both right and left bias. The main condition is the absence in their program requirements of calls for racial or national discrimination, as well as for revolutionary actions in order to radically change the existing system. Keeping in mind the Soviet experience, the creation of party cells in factories, organizations and institutions is prohibited.
KPRF, United Russia, Yabloko, Liberal Democratic Party, Fair Russia should be attributed to the largest and most famous political movements, whose activities have been going on for more than one election cycle. These parties differ from each other not only in their program requirements, but also in their organizational structure and methods of working with the population.
Features of the modern Russian multi-party system
Considering the formation of a multi-party system in our country, analyzing its features, it should be remembered that its formation and development took place in difficult conditions of transition from one social system to another. In addition, one should keep in mind the peculiarity of the folding of domestic parties, as well as the skeptical attitudemajority of citizens to the party system itself.
One of the most important components of the process of multi-party system in our country should be recognized that it is of a spasmodic nature. The multi-party system in modern Russia is strongly influenced by external processes. This is due, first of all, to the fact that many parties are formed solely for short-term goals, without setting themselves the solution of serious social and ideological problems.
A feature of the multi-party system in Russia lies also in the fact that almost all parties (with the possible exception of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation) are created around a specific leader, and not as spokesmen for the interests of certain social strata or classes. The leaders, in turn, see the creation of a political association as an opportunity for themselves to get into the echelons of power and integrate into the existing political model.
Main difficulties and ways to solve them
The main difficulty in the development of political and ideological pluralism in our country is connected with the fact that the main ideological core has not been developed in the society for more than twenty years of transition. In many ways, this is precisely why the parties are focused on momentary benefits, not caring about systematic systematic work. The way out of this situation can be consistent joint work of the state and civil society, which will lead to the development of ideological guidelines that are understandable to all.
Another difficulty is that the multi-party system, exampleswhich were discussed above, in most countries was formed in the process of so-called bourgeois revolutions. In our country, a multi-party system began to develop after seventy years of the existence of a rigid authoritarian model. This, in turn, left its mark on the attitude of ordinary citizens to power, on their desire and desire to actively participate in the life of society.
Main findings and perspectives
Single-party and multi-party systems in certain countries reflect the situation in the political spheres, give an idea of the traditions and mentality of the people. Modern Russia is in a difficult transitional period, when attitudes that were considered unshakable for a long time turned out to be rapidly destroyed, and new ideological guidelines have not been formed.
Under these conditions, the multi-party system is doomed to a long and complex process of its formation. At the same time, world experience makes it possible to assume that all the main difficulties will be overcome from time to time, and Russia will move on to a more active construction of a modern democratic society.
