For the first time the term "civil society" was introduced by J. Locke. Subsequently, many thinkers expanded and narrowed this concept, isolated some of its features, talked about development of civil society institutions.
Today there are many definitionscivil society. According to one of them, it is a sphere of self-manifestation of free people, non-profit organizations and associations formed on a voluntary basis, protected from arbitrary regulation and direct intervention of various external factors, including business and authorities. Civil society institutions considered a classic filter of the requirements of society to the political system.
Key Principles of J. Locke
The English philosopher formulated several principles on which civilized social relations are based:
- The personal interests of the individual are above public and state.
- The highest value is freedom, and its foundation is private property.
- In civil society, protective structures are formed between the state and the individual.
- Freedom implies non-interference in a person’s privacy.
- Individuals, creating a civil society, enter into a social contract.
Based on these principles, we can conclude that civil society institution is complex of associations of people, protected from government intervention.
Между тем государство призвано регулировать relationship arising in society. If society ensures the realization of human rights (freedom, life, etc.), the state, in turn, provides civil rights (the opportunity to participate in management). In both cases, there is a personal right to self-realization.
Public institutions in civil society
The characteristics of civil society are in the diversity of interests of individuals, the specifics of their satisfaction through different institutions, as well as the range of freedoms and rights of each person.
In theory, it is customary to distinguish 3 groups civil society institutions. it associations in which a person:
- Receives funds to meet the needs for housing, food, clothing, etc. Such a person a person receives in the form of wages in the enterprise, income from business and so on.
- Satisfies the need for communication, continuationkind, physical, spiritual development. For this there is a church, scientific / educational institutions, family, creative associations, sports unions, etc.
- Satisfies the need for participation in the management of society. These interests are realized through participation in political movements and parties.
Maturity civil society institutions are the ability of individuals, different associations to defend private interests, to satisfy them at their discretion, without prejudice to the rights of other citizens.
Modern society
Currently civil society institutions are groups of equal and free individuals relatively independent of the state. The internal and external relations of these associations are built in the conditions of democratic statehood and the market.
Unlike State institutions, in civil society not vertical, but horizontal links are formed. Relations of solidarity and competition arise between legally equal and free partners.
In the economic sphere as structuralelements of civil society are non-governmental organizations. These include, in particular, joint-stock companies, cooperatives, companies, partnerships, corporations, associations and other business associations of people created on a voluntary basis and on their personal initiative.
Socio-political aspect
It is formed in the course of the activities of civil society institutions:
- a family acting as a defining social unit in which personal and social interests intersect;
- social, socio-political, political movements and parties, reflecting the diversity of interests of different groups of citizens;
- self-government bodies at the place of work and residence of individuals;
- non-state media.
The socio-political aspect is also shaped by the functioning of a mechanism for identifying and expressing public opinion and resolving various social conflicts.
In this area of public life, the practice of institutional reflection of interests that arise in society is being created. They are expressed in a civilized, non-violent form, within the framework of laws.
Spiritual sphere
Freedom of speech and thought manifests itself in this area.Representatives of civil society have the opportunity to publicly express their opinions. It is also important that scientific, creative associations are independent of state bodies, show independence and initiative.
The priority of freedoms and human rights
The functioning of civil society institutions is aimed at improving the quality of life of each individual. Wherein:
- The natural rights of a person to free activity, life, happiness are recognized.
- A legal state is affirmed, subjecting its existence to law.
- It recognizes the equality of citizens in the framework of common norms, in one economic and socio-political space.
State Functions
Citizens are in close contact with the rule of law. Its main tasks are reduced to:
- Developing a general development strategy
- Definition and justification of priorities, pace, proportions of the formation of socio-economic spheres of life.
- Stimulation of socially beneficial activities of citizens, protection of their rights, dignity, property.
- Democratization of spheres of social activity.
- Protecting borders and maintaining public order.
Features of state interaction with civil society institutions
Discussions about the relationship between the government and the peopleconducted in scientific circles for a long time. Either partnership or rival relations can be established between state and social institutions. In the first case, there is agreement, mutual support, in the second - opposition, and in some cases hostility. It is worth noting that such multidirectional relations are also formed within society itself between its institutions.
According to many sociologists, civil societycan be described as the element of different political wills, which control from a single center is impossible. Representatives of society pursue the often opposite, mutually exclusive interests.
State institutions, in turn,they are called upon to play the role of “interested mediator” or arbiter in the confrontation of various social and political movements. They express and implement the national will of society. At the same time (ideally), state institutions should focus on the interests of the majority of members of the public.
Such a contradictory, complex dialecticdiverse free wills that form civil society, and one state will reflects the effectiveness of democracy. With the weakening of the positions of civil society, an authoritarian state regime is inevitably formed. With the weakening of the power of the state, in turn, develops quasi-democracy, which leads to social and political chaos.
Russian realities
За время многочисленных реформ в стране произошли quite significant shifts towards the formation of civil society institutions. The creation of the infrastructure necessary for them was allowed by privatization, the approval of free-thinking, political pluralism.
Meanwhile, the quality of the foundation of public institutionsrated by many experts as low. According to a number of domestic sociologists, the existing political associations cannot effectively realize the role of a mediator between the people and the government. In addition, there is not a high level of social responsibility of business representatives.
As a result, researchers are talking aboutsignificant problems in the formation of a civil society in the Russian Federation. These difficulties are both subjective and objective. First of all, in Russian society there is no tradition of civilian life itself. Secondly, the population’s views on the mechanisms and nature of the formation of civil society are very simplified. Third, the role of the state in the process of its construction is underestimated.
