Political relations are interconnections and interactions of social groups that arise in the process of political activity. Their origin occurs when the need for management and regulation of public processes begins to be carried out under the leadership of the state system. If we turn to the sources, we can see that such relations originate in the economy of society, more precisely, in those interactions that arise as a result of satisfying the most important and basic needs of the population.
Political relations have both positive (the relationship of individuals representing various social groups, cooperation), and negative (competition) characteristics that contribute to both the unification and separation of people. However, the essence of such relationships is to establish a connection between the life of social actors and the problems and interests that are inherent in the whole society as a whole. Just the state acts as a structural element that exercises control over the maintenance of this relationship.
Note that political life and power relations are interrelated. So, the regime not only organizes and normalizes these relations, but also affects the specifics of their nature. So, in a state with a totalitarian form of government, they are completely dependent on the vertical of power. As for a democratic society, the goal of political relations here is control, management and regulation. Note that an important role in their functioning and formation is played by the regulatory framework that is inherent in a particular state.
A few other factors that influence political relations are the following: the political culture of the country's population and the effectiveness of policies in the state. Note that this type of interaction is formed on the basis of the relationships that are formed between the social layers and ethnic groups of people. They are characterized by a certain stability and are the result of the alignment of political forces and the implementation of the program of the ruling elite of the state.
Note that all social relations become political if they begin to include the use of power of central and local importance.
Political relations are manifested in the following basic forms:
- state bodies-constituent organizations;
- state-social groups;
- state-public organizations of non-state affiliation;
- political parties-political parties ;
- political parties, non-political organizations;
- power citizens;
- relations between states at the international level;
- state-international political associations.
Each type of such relationship is based on interests and goals that may diverge or coincide. It is from the nature of the interaction of these concepts that determines the specifics of the development of relations between participants in political life. They also depend on economic and social characteristics, as well as on public political culture and the will of the subjects of state power.
Political relations, therefore, are a combination of multilevel and essentially different types of interaction between political entities. Their regulation is carried out by applying a set of social norms, for example, political principles, traditions, as well as legal and ethnic laws. It should be noted that if the actors in political life change in society, this will steadily entail changes in the principles of relations in this sphere.