Everyone knows the purpose of government. However, not everyone knows exactly how it functions. What are the main features of political power? Are there state regimes that are most optimal for society? Let's try to understand everything in our article.
What is power?
Power has existed at all stages of human development. Even in the primitive communal system, relations of leadership and subordination were formed. This type of interaction expressed people's needs for organization and self-regulation. At the same time, power is not only a mechanism for regulating society, but also a guarantor of the integrity of a certain group of people.
What is the main feature of political power? Thinkers of different times had their own opinion on this matter. For example, Thomas Hobbes spoke of striving for the good in the future. Mark Weber was more pessimistic, and therefore found in power the desire to subjugate his own kind. Bertrand Russell defined the relationship of leadership and subordination as the production of intentional results. However, all scientists agree on one thing: powerhas a natural character.
Objects and subjects
The question of what is the main feature of political power cannot be considered without defining the main components of the concept. It is known that any power is a correlation of domination and subordination. Both types of relations are implemented by the subjects of political power: social communities, political organizations and the state itself. The people influence the government only indirectly. This happens through elections. Only in rare cases can "grassroots" institutions be created that take all power into their own hands.
The state exercises most of the political powers. The apparatus of power includes the ruling parties, the bureaucratic elite, pressure groups and other institutions. The nature and strength of state functions depend on the regime of political power. Historical epochs were characterized by different regimes. Each one should be taken apart.
Types of power
The political regime is a type of government, a set of methods, forms and techniques for the implementation of domination and subordination. Today, democracy reigns in most countries - a regime in which the people are recognized as the source of power. Ordinary people indirectly participate in the exercise of state power. By voting, the state power is formed, which works in harmony with the people.
The opposite of democracy is authoritarianism. This is a regime in which all the fullness of state power is in the hands of one person or group of persons. The people do not acceptno participation in public affairs. Russian Empire XVIII-XX centuries. could well be called an authoritarian state.
Totalitarianism is called a tougher form of an authoritarian regime. The state not only completely subjugates the people, but also interferes in all spheres of public life. There is complete control by the authorities over each person. History knows many examples of political power of a totalitarian nature. This is Hitler's Germany, Stalin's USSR, modern North Korea, etc.
Complete anarchy and lack of political regime is characteristic of anarchy. The anarchist system is established after revolutions, wars or other social upheavals. As a rule, such a system does not last long.
Functions
What is the main feature of political power? Having considered the main state regimes, we can say with confidence: this is the construction of relations of domination and subordination. Such relationships manifest themselves in different ways and may have dissimilar goals. However, the principle of power is always the same: the subordination of one group of persons to another.
Power, whatever it may be, has approximately the same functions. The first and main feature of the state is that it has the authority to govern. With his help, the authorities put their plans into practice. The next function is called control and supervisory. The authorities monitor the quality of their management, as well as ensure that no one violates its rules. To implement the control functionlaw enforcement agencies are established. The third function is organizational. The authorities form relations with citizens and public organizations in order to achieve mutual understanding. Finally, the last function is called educational. Power earns its authority by forcing citizens to be obedient.
Legitimacy of power
Any power must be legal. Moreover, it must be recognized by the people. Otherwise, conflicts, revolutions and even wars are possible. History contains many examples of political power that was destroyed by the people due to lack of recognition and compromise.
How does power become legitimate? Everything is simple here. The people themselves must empower the persons to whom they will subsequently obey. If a person or a group of people seizes power not by the will of the people, then a catastrophe will happen.
So what are the characteristics of political power? This is the presence of a clear structure, management apparatus, legitimacy and legality. Any government should serve only for the benefit of the people.
