The concept of "crisis" is also traditionally present in our lives, like all other terms denoting the processes of development, movement. The crisis is identical to the concept of the elements, it must be able to survive and accept as a natural process. Moreover, unlike the elements, the crisis is a social and predictable phenomenon. Therefore, we will try to understand the nature of this phenomenon.
You can learn not only to perceive it naturally, but also to understand how to emerge victorious from crisis states. To do this, one should answer the question "what is its nature?" How do they survive in a crisis and what are the ways to overcome it? How to learn to be a winner in difficult conditions?
Crisis
The very concept of crisis is derived from the ancient Greek term "κρίσις", which means "decision", "turning point". Etymology immediately clarifies the nature of the concept. Indeed, if we understand it as a sharp turn of events,fracture, destruction of the foundations of existence, then it remains to answer the logical question unambiguously. Namely: to urgently make a decision that will change the existing crisis state that does not satisfy human needs, to preserve in these conditions only those basic conditions that allow everything to endure. The turning point process, depending on the nature of the changes, can be classified for different reasons.
- To scale. Local, global.
- On time. Short-term and long-term.
- According to the area of manifestation. Natural and social.
If natural crises have an unpredictable nature, are spontaneous, then social crises are associated with human activities, and the resources to overcome them are hidden in society itself.
Types of social crisis
Society is represented by social institutions - a set of relations to regulate the norms of social life. In modern sociology, the following institutions are traditionally distinguished: families, religions, education, economics, management (politics, law, armed forces). Depending on the institutions in which social problems arise, the features of the crisis appear.
- Political (military-political).
- Economic (financial).
- Socio-demographic (marriage and family, religious, demographic).
It is these types of crises that have the strongest impact both on the whole society and on each of its members. Each of the conflicts cannot exist in its pure form. Since society has a complex nature of interaction,a single global information space, then a crisis in one of the social institutions provokes and affects the state of other spheres of public life. Often the problems of a certain social institution result in a systemic crisis affecting all spheres of society. Moreover, it becomes part of a global problem. The global crisis that is currently taking place demonstrates how interconnected all social systems are in the information age.
Political crisis
This process is expressed in the theoretical and practical opposition of political subjects for the desire to change (preserve) the public order, the way of exercising rights and obligations.
Behind a political crisis, as a rule, there is an economic interest. Answering the question "who benefits from this", it is possible to reveal the true cause of the problems of opposition to political power, covered with slogans counting on the support of society. The level of civic consciousness is the main threat to the manipulation of public opinion by the authorities.
The state of the political system, which is characterized by aggravation of conflicts and increased tension, determines the political crisis. Problems manifest themselves during this period with particular intensity. The political crisis can be foreign policy and domestic political. In turn, the crisis within the state can be governmental, parliamentary, constitutional, nationwide. The nature of the crisis determines the order of problems to be solved.
Economic crisis
Production of goods and services, exceeding the level of solvency of the population, characterizes the state of the economic crisis. The negative consequences of this process are:
- a sharp drop in the standard of living of the population;
- increase in unemployment;
- decrease in all indices of socio-economic development of the subject.
Business in a crisis, depending on the specifics of the activity, the level of competence in the field of anti-crisis management, has both negative and positive development scenarios. On the one hand, in harsh conditions, the risk of bankruptcy increases. On the other hand, new opportunities and resources are opening up. And with proper use of them, it is possible to find options for both diversification and high-quality growth.
Crisis of the institution of the family
The institution of marriage and family is an indicator of the state of society. Any crisis is reflected in the institution of the family, which is displayed in the statistics of births and deaths, divorces and marriages, unemployment and other important indicators (consumption, marginalization).
The term "family" comes from the Latin word "fames" (hunger). The family performs the function of protecting and satisfying the vital needs of a person. In a crisis, an acute problem arises - a drop in the incomes of most families. Consequently, the economic situation is at risk.
The problem of how people survive in a crisis like thisaffects the institution of the family - state, not private. Therefore, critical periods of development are characterized by the adoption of anti-crisis measures in relation to the social institution of marriage, which is announced in special state family support programs.
Social and demographic crisis
The problem of the institution of family and marriage is a kind of socio-demographic crisis. The latter is more extensive in terms of the scope of the concept. Includes, in addition to the institution of the family, migration services, the institution of religion and other social systems. Problems in this area are a threat to the security of the state and require the adoption of drastic measures by the state administration.
In critical periods, there is a decrease in the birth rate, an increase in the death rate and suicide rates, which leads to depopulation of the population with all economic consequences. To overcome the socio-demographic crisis, programs are being developed with social control levers aimed at solving problems as a priority. First of all, these are economic measures aimed at improving the well-being of people, redistributing migration flows, changing the level of natural income of the population.
Crisis as a process
Any phenomena of life are dynamic. Crisis is a process. Any process is based on development in the form of a dialectical unity of opposites. The development of society as a social system is based on the principle of self-development - the process of reproduction of potential.
Indeed, the social processes themselves continue, they do not stop even during the period of crisis. Moreover, in some cases they get more rapid development due to the redistribution of energy. What is critical as a contradiction? To understand how to survive in a crisis, you should know the nature of this phenomenon.
Dialectics of crisis
Firstly, the confrontation of subject relations at all levels, up to the default of states. The manifestation of the unity and struggle of opposites is reflected in all social phenomena.
Secondly, the disproportion of quantitative and qualitative changes. A vivid example of this is the financial and mortgage problems of our time. The amount of money does not correspond to the need for a social product. An increase in the money supply directly entails a decrease in the value of money. This is the most superficial example. Causal patterns have deeper foundations. Certain quantitative changes accumulate over the years to provoke a qualitative development.
Thirdly, the law of denial manifests itself in full measure: the old forms of economic relations that have outlived their mission do not satisfy the new quality of social demands and needs. A crisis is a discrepancy between the form and content of the mode of production, a gap in the development of society and a transition to a new level of socio-economic relations.
The nature of the crisis and how to overcome it
Living in an era of change is not considered the best option. But Russia did not know quiet times. Moreover, the crisis is permanentform of development of Russian society. This is due to many factors.
For example, the scale of the state. The dynamics of processes and transformations is not able to fit into the scale of the country. It is important to understand that overcoming a crisis is a natural state of development. It is not necessary to see the tragedy of society in the crisis. On the contrary, it is always an opportunity. A person, if he perceives a crisis as a constant search for better forms for a changing and dynamic reality, must be psychologically ready to constantly develop his abilities and, through their use, improve himself and the world around him. It's worth going back to the classics. Examples of how to survive in a crisis become worthy of a literary genre. For example, Theodor Dreiser's trilogy "The Financier".
The current economic crisis
The current state of society is another transformation of socio-economic relations, demonstrating the inability of modern management to resolve the contradictions that have arisen. How can an ordinary person, a citizen of society, an entrepreneur acting at his own peril and risk, maintain his economic and social security and freedom? Simply put, how can a business survive in a crisis? How can an ordinary citizen protect himself?
Ways to overcome the crisis for business
Knowing the nature of the crisis, it is important to understand that this is not a collapse, but a dialectical process of getting rid of old forms that do not meet the needs of the present.
- It is important to preserve the resource potential, assets (material and intellectual).
- Save value and increase prices, refuse discounts.
- Don't plan high-risk trades.
- Limit to reliable partnerships.
- Concentrate on profitable projects with high margins.
Business in a crisis is like a ship in a stormy ocean. Sometimes it's better to "dry the oars", save the resource state and submit to the elements, so that at the right moment, after the storm, catch up.
How do people survive in a crisis?
In order to survive in a crisis and look positively into the future, one should use not only personal resources, but also state anti-crisis programs:
- seize the opportunity to rent land to grow crops, which will help feed the family and sell the surplus for profit;
- learn how to manage a family budget to analyze cost items in order to save and redistribute funds;
- suspend construction in progress or other costly family projects until favorable conditions;
- to rent out available free real estate (plots of land, cottages, housing);
- actively offer on the market their resources that do not require investment: consultations, tutoring, household and private services.
The main rule in times of crisis is to activate personal potential, not to start projects that require involvementfunds, minimize costs.
Business processes and the crisis of society
In a state of instability and lack of guidance, a slowdown in the activity of business processes, everything that characterizes a crisis, no one is in a hurry to make forecasts now, neither professional experts, nor politicians, nor the authorities. There are good reasons for this.
Prediction of the crisis in modern conditions has a very large degree of error. Because the crisis is long-term, large-scale, affects global political systems. It is only known that, like any process, it will provide new opportunities for development. The question of the price for these features remains open.
Recommendations on how to save business in a crisis affect the interests of not only business, but also each person and society as a whole. A universal “safety cushion” in times of crisis is the following general principles: do not lose value, do not undertake new projects due to changing game conditions and legal frameworks, save a resource for emerging opportunities and be ready to join active processes at the slightest opportunity that opens up, have ready-made forms for new ones. the needs of society.
