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, a rule of law state and civil society. This process is complex and time-consuming. One of its most important manifestations may be the folding of institutions such as a multi-party political system and the state apparatus responsible to the people.
Party system and its essence
The political system of any state is an extremely complex mechanism that includes many diverse elements. One of its connecting elements is the party system, which represents not only the entire set of parties in a given state, but also the social and legal mechanisms of interaction between them, as well as the degree to which citizens understand the necessity and importance of their existence.
The main types of party systems
Most Western political scientists and social researchers have long come to the conclusion that the presence of a particular party system quite accurately reflects the political development of society. Thus, a multiparty system testifies both to the development of the social structure and to the high degree of influence of civil society on decisions of public 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. Moreover, bipartisanship does not at all mean the existence of just such a number of parties. Itβs just that the real struggle is between the leading political forces, for other parties and movements there is practically no chance of coming to power.
Multiparty system and its features
Features of a multiparty system include both external differences from other systems and a complex internal entity. The first include the presence of more than two parties, most of which have real chances to come to power, developed electoral legislation, vigorous activity of civil society institutions, and the succession 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 each citizen to find precisely that political force that will most fully represent his interests and those of the people around him. This is a multi-party system, forcing every citizen to be constantly interested in what is happening in the country.
Classic type
A 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.
The so-called multi-party fragmentation, which currently exists in countries such as Denmark, Austria, Belgium, is considered classical. There is no leader party in this system, not one of the political forces receives an absolute majority in the elections, therefore it is forced to join one or another coalition. This system is unstable, as a result of which it seeks to switch to another state.
Other varieties of multiparty systems
One of the most stable states of the political system is associated with a 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 parties and their leaders to make certain concessions with their allies, to take a more balanced approach to compiling election programs and internal party discipline.
Finally, there is a multi-party system in which the single, largest association plays a key role. Here, opposition forces are fragmented and unable to offer citizens a coherent alternative. The main drawback of such a regime, which is characteristic, for example, for India and Sweden, is that it most often leads to stagnation in political life and aging in the bowels of society of aspirations for revolutionary changes.
The formation of a multiparty system in Russia: the pre-revolutionary period
The multi-party system in Russia began to take shape much later than in most developed countries in Western Europe and America. The main reason for this was the dominant for several centuries, the serf system with a pronounced autocratic power.
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 primarily relates to the process of sharp politicization of society, when different social strata were looking for an opportunity to influence the autocracy that was gradually losing its influence.
The multi-party system in Russia originates in the late XIX - early XX 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 prominent political organizations are the RSDLP, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Oktyabrists, 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 country took place in the context 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 dominant position of the autocracy in the political arena.
Soviet period
With the advent of the revolutionary-minded Bolshevik party in October 1917, the activities of all other political associations began to be phased out. By the summer of 1918, the RSDLP (b) remained the only legally operating political party, all the others were either closed or self-dissolved. For many decades, a monopoly of one power has been established in the country.
The multiparty system in the USSR began to revive in the late 1980s, when opposition political movements began to appear in the country in connection with perestroika and the policy of democratization of society. This process went especially fast after the abolition of the sixth article of the Constitution in 1990, which guaranteed the dominant position of the CPSU.
In the first months after the famous March Congress of People's Deputies, the USSR Ministry of Justice registered about twenty political parties and movements. By the time of the collapse of the state, there were already more than sixty of them.
The formation of a multi-party system in Russia: the modern stage
The formation of a multi-party system in Russia moved to a qualitatively different level after the adoption of a new Constitution in December 1993. It is here, in the thirteenth article, that such a political and legal institution as a multiparty 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, must be responsible for their actions to the voters.
There is currently no official ideology in Russia, therefore political parties can have both a right and a 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 with the aim of radically changing the existing system. Mindful of the Soviet experience, the creation of party cells in factories, organizations and institutions is prohibited.
The largest and most well-known political movements, the activities of which have been ongoing for more than one electoral cycle, should include the Communist Party, United Russia, Yabloko, LDPR, and Fair Russia. These parties differ from each other not only in program requirements, but also in their organizational structure and methods of working with the population.
Features of the modern Russian multiparty 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 bear in mind the peculiarity of the formation of domestic parties, as well as the skeptical attitude of most citizens to the party system itself.
One of the most important components of the multi-party system in our country should be recognized that it is spasmodic. 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 exclusively from momentary goals, without setting themselves solutions to serious social and ideological problems.
The multiparty system in Russia also has the peculiarity that almost all parties (with the possible exception of the Communist Party, for example) are created around a particular leader, and not as spokesmen for the interests of certain social groups or classes. The leaders, in turn, see the creation of a political union as an opportunity for themselves to fall into the echelons of power and integrate into the existing political model.
The main difficulties and solutions
The main difficulty in the development of political and ideological pluralism in our country is due to the fact that in society for more than twenty years of transition, the main ideological core has not been developed. In many respects, precisely because of this, parties are oriented toward momentary benefits without worrying about systematic systematic work. The way out of this situation may be the 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 a multi-party system, examples of which were considered above, in most countries was formed in the process of the so-called bourgeois revolutions. In our country, a multi-party system began to develop after seventy years of 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 society.
Key Findings and Prospects
One-party and multi-party systems in various countries reflect the situation in political spheres, give an idea of ββthe traditions and mentality of the people. Modern Russia is in a difficult transitional period, when for a long time the unshakable installations were quickly destroyed, and new ideological guidelines were never formed.
Under these conditions, a 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 the time, and Russia will move on to more active construction of a modern democratic society.