The state is a multi-level sovereign system. It exists and functions independently of external political influences in a particular territory. It is based on various institutions: economic, social, legal.
In each country there are various groups, social classes, who want to see their representatives in power. Based on this desire, political parties are formed. Unlike the state, they do not have all the power in the country. Nevertheless, they have a certain impact on the state of society.
Further in the article we will try to compare the activities of a political party and the state.
General information
The state, unlike a political party, can have a different form. The most stable are considered monarchical and republican. In the first case, the only ruler possesses all power. In the republics, political will is expressed by citizens.
Participation in the affairs of the country can be carried out in two forms: directly or through representatives selected during the voting. It can be separate entities or their associations - political parties. Unlike the state, they are not endowed with the full power in the country. They exercise only certain powers under certain conditions.
Key Features of Institutions
In the historical sense, the state, unlike a political party, is a social organization endowed with ultimate power over citizens living within the country. The key goal of this institution is to solve the general problems of the population, to ensure welfare while maintaining order.
The key difference between the state apparatus and the political party apparatus is the presence of an extensive system of organizations and institutions, representing 3 branches of government: judicial, legislative, executive. There is a certain class of officials in it. Their activities ensure the functioning and development of the state.
In the party structure distinguish:
- Headquarters with a leader.
- A stable bureaucratic apparatus, fulfilling the orders of leadership.
- The active part of the party. It is formed by members participating in the life of the association, not adjacent to the bureaucratic apparatus.
- The passive part of the party. It is formed by members who are insignificantly involved in the activities of the association. Among them, for example, are patrons.
Signs of the state and political party
The common thing is that these institutions operate within the same country.
The state has certain instruments of coercion. It subjugates the entire population living within the country. Unlike the state, a political party does not act on behalf of the whole society and does not extend its power to it. The orders of her leadership are binding only on members of her bureaucratic apparatus.
The differences in the functions of the state and political parties are especially pronounced. State power structures exercise their powers to maintain a balance of interests of all sectors of society. A political party, unlike the state, has a narrowly focused program of action. In it, the interests of certain segments of the population take precedence over others. The state, unlike a political party, develops laws and rules of conduct. They are mandatory for all citizens and associations, including political ones.
Functions
The state, unlike a political party, is the core of the power system. It manages the life of the population, regulates relations between different layers and classes, ensures stability and security of society.
The state, unlike a political party, has a very ramified structure. It is formed from the legislative, executive and administrative, judicial bodies, the armed forces, public security structures, etc. Their presence allows the state to realize not only management functions, but also coercion against individual individuals or their associations.
A political party differs from the state in that it expresses in a concentrated form the interests, ideals, goals of a social group. It is formed by the most active individuals. The key task of the association is the struggle for power.
Relations between political parties and the state are based on the law. These associations act as a kind of intermediaries, ensuring the connection of social groups with each other and with state power.
The emergence of the state
At a certain stage of social development, the need arises for the formation of a sustainable management institution. In different countries, this moment arose at different times, and in different ways they went through the stage of statehood formation.
Currently, 2 concepts are considered common. On the basis of the first, the state is formed in the process of the natural development of society. The population comes to understand the need to create a central institution of power. As a result, citizens enter into an agreement with their rulers.
The second concept is based on the ideas of Plato. In accordance with it, the state is formed in the process of the conquest of others by some people. At the same time, conquerors may not exceed the conquered in numbers, but must be well organized and trained.
Of course, in the history of the development of human civilization, the formation of states went along both the first and second paths. Initially, it acted as the only political organization in society. However, in many countries, other institutions began to form in connection with the development of the political system.
State concept
In a broad sense, this term is identified with a society living within a particular country. For example, they say: “Member States of the United Nations”, “State of Russia”, etc. Here we are talking about entire countries along with their peoples. The broad concept of the state was common in the Middle Ages and in ancient times.
In a narrow sense, it is regarded as one of the political institutions endowed with supreme power. This approach to understanding the term "state" began to take shape during the emergence of public institutions. With the development of the socio-economic structure, it becomes necessary to separate state institutions from other elements of the political system.
Distinctive features of the state
This institution can be viewed from various points of view. Functionally, the state is the main political institution. It manages the company, provides order and stability in it.
At the same time, the state enters into relations with other entities: citizens and their associations. In this sense, it is considered as a complex of institutions responsible for organizing public life and financed by the means of the population.
One of the key features of the state is considered sovereignty. It assumes the independence of power from external factors.
In carrying out its activities, the state accumulates spiritual, social, power and other resources. Their use allows you to represent the interests and satisfy the needs of the whole people, and not of individual individuals or their groups.
In the interaction of the state and political parties, other public associations, enterprises, institutions, individual citizens, the implementation of legislation should be ensured. To this end, the government has a monopoly on legitimate violence. The state uses coercive instruments enshrined in regulations to punish violators of regulations.
Financing of authorities is carried out at the expense of taxes. The state has a monopoly on their establishment and collection. Funds raised from the population are used to solve a variety of management tasks.
Another key feature of the state is the publicity of power. It protects public, not private, interests. As a rule, in the framework of the implementation of state policy, personal relations between the government and the citizen are absent.
One of the most important features of a state is its compulsory membership. If an entity enters into a political party at will, then a person born in the country, as a general rule, automatically becomes its citizen. The subject can withdraw from citizenship, as well as from the composition of a political party, at any time if desired. In case of violation of the requirements of the law, a person may be deprived of citizenship by force.
Political Party Signs
In practice, 4 criteria are distinguished:
- The longevity of existence. A political party is formed with the expectation of a long term of activity.
- The presence of sustainable organizations that maintain contact with the country's leadership.
- The focus of leaders on the struggle for power.
- Seeking support from citizens through elections or other tools.
The first sign allows you to distinguish parties from other associations (factions, movements, etc.) that disappear with the founders. The second criterion assumes the full-scale organization: its activities are carried out at the regional and local levels. This feature allows you to distinguish the party from the usual parliamentary group, which exists exclusively at the national level.
The desire to fight for power separates political associations from trade unions and other public organizations. The purpose of the party is to gain power or participate in its implementation. As a rule, political associations put forward and try to implement global concepts for the reconstruction of the social system.
The desire to enlist the support of the people distinguishes the party from the pressure group. The latter does not participate in election campaigns. Pressure groups have an impact (usually hidden) on government, public opinion, and political parties.
Party varieties
Based on the above criteria, political associations can be classified into the following types:
- Class. Such parties represent the interests of certain social groups. They differ from each other in their place in the system of production relations.
- National, religious. Such parties promote at the state level the specific interests of a particular denomination or ethnic group. As a rule, the task is to ensure their priority in state power.
- Distressed. Such political parties are created to address specific social issues. As a rule, these are acute, urgent problems that require an immediate response.
- State-patriotic. The activities of such associations are aimed at mobilizing the entire population to ensure stability and integrity of the country. Parties of this type arise, as a rule, at historically critical moments when a real or far-fetched danger arises for the state and society. Gradually they break up or transform.
Some parties are forming around some popular politician. These associations act as a kind of support group.
There are also so-called grotesque parties. They see the meaning of their activity in demonstrating the specificity of certain addictions of a group of persons. For example, the "party of watermelon lovers." As a rule, they do not pretend to power, but they defend their interests fairly steadily. Their composition is small, but very united.
The basis of the political party
A distinctive feature of the association is the presence of ideological principles that attract supporters. The programs record specific activities. They can be expressed openly or exist solely for the initiates.
The social basis of the party is one of the attributes of its essence. Associations can attract members indirectly or directly, through ideological manipulations. The key criterion for the essence of the party is the nature of the forces whose views it defends.
Balance of interests
The state and political parties are not just public institutions operating in a particular country. They act as integral elements of a democratic society. Moreover, special attention is paid to the fact that the state is the central link that sets the rules for all political forces existing in the country. It is considered as a factor integrating all elements of the system into a single whole.
Meanwhile, some scientists believe that this design is imperfect and needs to be reviewed. In their opinion, the concept of a political system was convenient in Soviet times, because then all the forces revolved around one center.
In a democratic society, a special system is being formed, involving a balance, balance and interaction of political forces. At present, it is necessary to take into account not only the importance of the state, but also the integrating role of the population itself, its influence on power.
Political parties are key institutions of civil society. However, the state, unlike them, expresses the interests of all citizens as a whole, being the official representative of the people. Accordingly, it is endowed with exceptional tools - “levers of power”. It is for their possession that the parties are fighting. They strive to ensure the implementation of their own programs through the mechanism of state power.
Some parties have already gained some access to political leverage. They are called the ruling. They exercise their power through the placement of their members in key government posts.
Conclusion
In the political system, power is a key tool for influencing various aspects of public life. To take possession of him, people are united in parties. These organizations carry out their activities on the basis of certain ideological principles and are a powerful factor contributing to an increase in the level of organization and rationalization of political life in the country.
The state, of course, is interested in ensuring social stability. To achieve the set socially significant tasks, it is advisable to combine efforts with political parties. They, in turn, should more and more often interact with citizens, participate and support the undertakings of local authorities, be present in movements at the regional level. The interests of the parties themselves should not be higher than the welfare of the population. Only in this case the most effective activity of the whole political system as a whole is possible.