Political modernization is an integral process in the modern political life of many countries, the essence of which is progressive development. There are several characteristic signs of this phenomenon that are present in all areas of human society. First of all, from an economic point of view, a feature of this phenomenon is a change in the mode of production and the way of farming in such a way that it corresponds to the modern open-type market system, where the private sector plays a dominant role.
As for the social sphere, here political modernization is manifested in the formation of an equilibrium social stratification, as well as the achievement of mass consumption through the development of a full-fledged civil society. The result of socio-political interaction is the formation of a social society.
If we consider the cultural and spiritual areas of human consciousness, here the signs of modernization are the popularization of literacy among the population, the spread of liberal values and the multiplicity of humanitarian trends in science. A type of autonomous and free personality begins to take shape, which can have many addictions and activities that are not conditioned by state requirements and public opinion.
Political modernization is manifested in the form of a process based on regular changes that begin in developed countries and extend to peripheral states. In the structure of societies that become participants in this process, there are certain institutions that act as channels of political and social change. Among them are called:
1. A formal education system that focuses the subject not on life in the local family or ethnic community, but on existence in the world system.
2. Work in industrial enterprises of the modern type.
3. Living in a city that meets the latest standards.
Political modernization reflects the problems associated with the development of countries in transition. Currently, this process is characterized by an increase in the ability of the political system to adapt to new examples of social goals and the ability to create new institutions that will ensure the development of a new social system. This situation is determined by both objective (cultural and economic) and subjective (the ability of management to make such changes) factors.
As for the Russian Federation, we note that the political system of this country has always been distinguished by certain features. In particular, the main one is the dominant role of the state in all spheres of public life.
According to the researchers, political modernization in modern Russia is ambivalent in nature: government actions are carried out both in a progressive and in a regressive direction. Signs of the first trend are the expansion of the introduction of social groups in political life, the weakening of the political elite and the loss of its legitimacy. As for the second, reverse direction, it is characterized by the form of implementation of all modernizing processes. So, the methods of action of the state elite remain authoritarian, because they allow you to make decisions only unilaterally. The progressive development is also hindered by the political regime, which combines signs of democratic and authoritarian power.
Political modernization in history had several types of development:
1. The original, which was characteristic of the United States and countries of Western Europe and was distinguished by the transition to a rational structure due to internal development.
2. Secondary, inherent in countries seeking to “catch up” with more successful states by using their experience.