Civil society, the concept, signs, the structure of which will be described in detail in the article, is considered the main pillar of any real democracy. It acts as a guarantee of its strengthening and preservation, contributing to its formation. The main opponent of development in the state of totalitarianism is precisely civil society. What are the main features of this formation? How is her activity manifested? About it further.
General information
Civil society is called upon to protect society from various abuses of power. It helps to limit corruption and prevents the violation of human rights. In Russia, the structure and functions of civil society are only just beginning to take shape. This is manifested primarily by the proclamation of individual freedoms and rights as the highest value of society, which determines the content and meaning of the activities of authorities. Among the prerequisites due to which the structure of civil society began to take shape, we can briefly name the following:
- The emergence of a multi-party system.
- The development of market relations.
- Implementation of the principle of separation of powers.
The bureaucratic system impedes the broader influence of civil society on state activities.
Education
Civil society - the concept, signs, structure of this form of organization of people - went through a rather long period of formation in the course of historical development. As a result, it has become a powerful social entity. Civil society began to function not only as an exclusively state, but also as a social structure. In the transition to market relations there is a significant property stratification of education. This period is characterized by an increase in social, ethnic, including conflicts. All these factors negatively affect the process of formation and formation of civil society. Today, the issues of ensuring social protection of people, implementing the principles of justice in public administration are coming to the fore.
The concept and essence of civil society
Today, the definition has been significantly enriched by the content and is considered very ambiguous. In a general sense, it provides for the highest form of organization of people. The structure of civil society includes individuals, institutions and groups. All of them are not directly dependent on the political state. Also, the structure of civil society can be briefly considered as an association in which there are developed cultural, legal, political, economic relations between the individuals forming it. Moreover, these communications are not mediated by the state.
Characteristic
The concept and essence of civil society can be considered from two points of view. In accordance with the first, this form of organization is a complex of interpersonal relationships, as well as social institutions. In this case, the structure of civil society includes economics, culture, education, family, religion and so on. State participation is not provided for in the development of these relations. Due to this complex of interactions, social groups and individuals satisfy their own interests and needs. The concept of civil society in philosophy suggests an ideal model of formation formation. In accordance with this point of view, social education consists of sovereign free personalities. At the same time, they should have the broadest socio-economic, political, cultural and other rights, actively participate in public administration and freely satisfy the most diverse individual needs.
Principles
They provide the vital activity of civil society. The main principles include:
- Equality of freedoms and rights of all people.
- The economic independence of individuals.
- Guaranteed legal protection of freedoms and human rights.
- Freedom of the population in the formation of movements and parties.
- Legally guaranteed opportunity for people to form independent associations based on professional characteristics and interests.
- Providing the necessary conditions, material ones including for the development of culture, education of the population, science, education and other things.
- The existence of a stabilizing mechanism to ensure the safety of relations between society and the state, as well as the security of the former.
- Freedom of education and media.
What features does civil society have? What are the main features of this form of organization
An essential feature of this complex is the ability to control and oppose the state. There are many periods in history in which civil society triumphed over power. The essence and structure of the formation may be in a different state. For example, in the East, this complex is generally considered "amorphous", but the state has unlimited possibilities and power, penetrating into all spheres of life. As for Russia, here the state, as a rule, defeated and subjugated civil society. The essence and structure of the complex is constantly under pressure from the authorities. A striking example is the 70-year period of totalitarianism in the country. As a result, historical development has virtually stalled. In modern Russia, civil society began to be viewed from a different angle. Interest in him appeared as a political ideal. A sign of civil society is the desire to ensure freedom and individual rights, to oppose authoritarian manifestations of power. This form of organization, among other things, can take on some of the state tasks that the latter cannot do. Nevertheless, there is a certain dependence of civil society on the authorities. Its degree depends on the ability of people joining together to satisfy their needs on their own, without turning to the state for help.
Other features
Other features of civil society include:
- Developed legal, cultural, political, economic relationships between individuals.
- The ability to control the state.
- The presence of mechanisms of self-regulation and self-control.
- Pluralistic nature. It manifests itself in many parties, forms of ownership and more.
- Lack of human enslavement. In society, interacting people are considered its foundation.
- The development and diversity of the structure, which reflects the various interests of layers and groups, the ramification of democracy.
- A high degree of psychological, intellectual development of people, the ability to independent activity when attracting a complex to a particular institution.
- Law enforcement.
Within the framework of civil society, the freedoms and rights of its members are most fully ensured. The complex also has competition between groups. In a healthy society, its members freely form their own opinions, developed awareness, and the right to information is really realized. The life activity of the complex is based on the coordination principle. This distinguishes society from the state apparatus. In it, interactions occur on the principle of subordination, strict submission.
The constituent elements of the complex
Civil society has a special structure. Its components — institutions and formations — provide the conditions for satisfying the needs and realizing the interests of collectives and individuals. They are able to exert the necessary pressure on the government, forcing it to serve for the benefit of the population. The structure - internal arrangement - reflects the interaction and diversity of components. It provides dynamism and integrity of development. As a backbone principle, generating volitional and intellectual energy in a complex, a person, in fact, with characteristic natural interests and needs, acts. Their external expression is contained in the duties and rights enshrined in law. Elements of the structure are considered to be various associations and communities of people, as well as stable relations between them. The complex has vertical and horizontal connections. The foundations of the latter are various interactions that appear in the process of ensuring public life. These primarily include economic relations. They are based on a guarantee and variety of forms of ownership. This is considered a fundamental condition for personal freedom in both civil and other societies. Also, sociocultural relations are developed within the system. These include ethnic, family, religious, and other stable ties.
Social contours
The foundation of civil society can only be a diverse, ramified social structure. It reflects the diversity and richness of the interests of group members and representatives of strata. A significant role in the formation of social contours belongs to cultural pluralism. It includes all components of spiritual life, ensures equality with the participation of all individuals in creative activity. In the upper layer of society there are relations that are associated with personal choice, political and cultural differences of interest groups.
Finally
The vital activity of the complex is impossible without its members having special qualities and culture. Only then can a person be called a citizen when he has a worldview based on a combination of a sense of independence and self-esteem, individuality and respect for the freedoms and rights of other people with strict observance of laws. The presence of high moral ideals is also considered an integral feature .