What is liberal democracy. Liberal democratic political system

Despite the breadth of powers of the President, his power is not effective enough and reforms in Russia are carried out with great difficulty. Since there is not enough supremacy of supporters of reforms in society, it is hardly possible to deepen and accelerate them without authoritarian decisions. But to implement them, get the support of even the President’s existing allies. The presidential elections in 2000 turned into a sharp clash between supporters and opponents of liberal-democratic reforms, on the outcome of which the fate of the state and society depended. The latest presidential elections showed the commitment of the majority of Russians to the reforms being carried out in the country.

Pluralistic regimes have emerged in a number of other new independent states– in Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. But liberal democratic systems there are still weak, democracy lacks efficiency. This makes it difficult to realize the benefits of pluralist regimes. Latest historical events in Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan - a clear confirmation of this.

Many national democratic political systems operate in a pluralistic regime. The political forces exercising power with a national democratic orientation in India, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Argentina and a number of other countries are faced with considerable difficulties.

Despite all the advantages of Constitutional systems, a particularistic political culture prevails in them, opposition to the state system itself is not completely eliminated, various kinds of extremists are active, leaders of a confrontational and charismatic nature appear, and the influence of militarism is significant. Because of this, many political conflicts arise, in some cases even armed ones (Peru, Mexico, India).

Liberal democratic regime

The democratic regime also knows various shapes, first of all, the most modern one – the liberal democratic regime.

Liberal democratic regimes exist in many countries. Its significance is such that some scientists believe that the liberal regime is, in fact, not a regime for the exercise of power, but a condition for the existence of civilization itself at a certain stage of its development, even the final result with which all evolution ends political organization society, most effective form such an organization. But it is difficult to agree with the last statement, since at present there is an evolution of political regimes and even such a form as the liberal democratic regime.

New trends in the development of civilization, the desire of man to escape from environmental, nuclear and other disasters give rise to new forms of exercising state power, for example, the role of the UN is increasing, international forces quick response, but at the same time, contradictions between human rights and nations, peoples, etc. are growing.

In the theory of the state, liberal are those political methods and methods of exercising power that are based on a system of the most democratic and humanistic principles.

These principles primarily characterize the economic sphere of relations between the individual and the state. Under a liberal regime in this area, a person has property, rights and freedoms, is economically independent and on this basis becomes politically independent. In the relationship between the individual and the state, priority remains with the interests, rights, freedoms of the individual, etc.

The liberal regime defends the value of individualism, contrasting it with collectivist principles in the organization of political and economic life, which, according to a number of scientists, ultimately lead to totalitarian forms of government.

The liberal regime is determined primarily by the needs of the commodity-money, market organization of the economy. The market requires equal, free, independent partners.

Liberal State and proclaims the formal equality of all citizens. In a liberal society, freedom of speech, opinions, forms of ownership is proclaimed, and space is given to private initiative. Individual rights and freedoms are not only enshrined in the constitution, but also become enforceable in practice.

Thus, economic basis liberalism is private property. The state frees producers from its tutelage and does not interfere in the economic life of people, but only establishes the general framework of free competition between producers and the conditions of economic life. It also acts as an arbiter in resolving disputes between them.

In the later stages of liberalism, legitimate government intervention in economic and social processes acquires a socially oriented character, which is determined by many factors: the need to rationally distribute economic resources, decide environmental problems, participate in the global division of labor, prevent international conflicts etc.

A liberal regime allows for the existence of an opposition; moreover, under liberalism, the state takes all measures to ensure the existence of an opposition representing the interests of a minority, takes these interests into account, and creates special procedures for taking these interests into account.

Pluralism and, above all, a multi-party system are necessary attributes of a liberal society. In addition, under a liberal political regime, there are many associations, corporations, public organizations, sections, clubs that unite people by interests. Organizations are emerging that allow citizens to express their political, professional, religious, social, everyday, local, and national interests and needs. These associations form the foundation of civil society and do not leave the citizen face to face with government authorities, which are usually inclined to impose their decisions and even abuse their capabilities.

Under liberalism state power is formed through elections, the outcome of which depends not only on the opinion of the people, but also on the financial capabilities of certain parties necessary to conduct election campaigns.

Public administration is carried out on the basis of the principle of separation of powers. A system of checks and balances helps reduce opportunities for abuse of power. Government decisions are usually made in legal form.

IN public administration decentralization is used: the central government takes upon itself to resolve only those issues that the local government cannot solve.

Of course, one should not apologize the liberal regime, since it also has its own problems, the main ones being social protection certain categories of citizens, stratification of society, actual inequality of starting opportunities, etc.

The most effective use of this regime becomes possible only in a society that differs high level economic and social development. The population must have a sufficiently high political, intellectual and moral consciousness, legal culture.

Liberal democracy (polyarchy) is a form of socio-political structure - a legal state based on representative democracy, in which the will of the majority and the ability of elected representatives to exercise power are limited in the name of protecting the rights of the minority and the freedoms of individual citizens. Liberal democracy aims to provide every citizen with equal rights to due process, private property, privacy, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. These liberal rights are enshrined in higher laws (such as a constitution or statute, or in precedent decisions made by the highest courts), which in turn empower various government and public bodies to ensure these rights.

The peculiarity of liberal democracy is that it is characterized by the development of private entrepreneurship, restrictions on state intervention in privacy human, the formation of civil society.

Some authors understand a liberal regime (they also call it liberal-democratic) to mean methods and means of exercising state power that are based on a system of the most democratic and humanistic principles. That is, the liberal regime in this case is thought of as a regime of a higher order than the democratic one, as a regime that grows out of the democratic regime itself.

A semi-democratic regime arises as a result of the elimination of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, administrative-command and bureaucratic methods of managing society. Currently, liberal, semi-democratic regimes have developed in the post-socialist countries of Eastern Europe, in a number of CIS countries (including Russia), in Egypt, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua and many other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America after the collapse of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.

A characteristic element of liberal democracy is an “open society” characterized by tolerance, pluralism, coexistence and competition wide range socio-political views. Thanks to periodic elections, each of the groups adhering to different views, has a chance to gain power. In practice, viewpoints rarely play a significant role in the democratic process. However, the open society model makes it difficult for the ruling elite to circulate power, guarantees the possibility of a bloodless change of power, and creates incentives for the government to continuously respond to public demands.

In a liberal democracy, the political group in power does not have to subscribe to all aspects of the ideology of liberalism (for example, it may advocate democratic socialism). However, it is obliged to obey the above-mentioned principle of the rule of law. The term liberal in this case is understood in the same way as in the era bourgeois revolutions the end of the 18th century: providing every person with protection from arbitrariness on the part of the authorities and law enforcement agencies.

Liberal state - legal regime- this is the form, method and procedure for the exercise of state power in the conditions of a modern rule of law state and civil society. Such a regime presupposes the official recognition and practical implementation of basic innate and inalienable human rights and freedoms, and a wide range of civil rights, the rule of law, the separation of powers (legislative, executive and judicial). The establishment of constitutionalism, parliamentarism, ideological and political diversity, multi-party system, the exercise of the sovereign power of the people in the legal forms of referendum and free elections, the independent and effective functioning of civil society institutions, forms and mechanisms of public control over the activities of state power.

A liberal state-legal regime includes all aspects of democracy that are valuable, from the point of view of civil society and the rule of law, and, above all, the idea of ​​people's sovereignty in its legal (and state-legal) understanding and application. Therefore, bearing in mind specifically legal democracy (democracy in legal form), the liberal regime can be characterized as a liberal-democratic regime.

Liberal democracy is a form of socio-political system - a legal state based on representative democracy, in which the will of the majority and the ability of elected representatives to exercise power are limited in the name of protecting the rights of minorities and the freedoms of individual citizens.

Liberal democracy aims to provide every citizen with equal rights to due process, private property, privacy, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. These liberal rights are enshrined in higher laws (such as a constitution or statute, or in precedent decisions made by the highest courts), which in turn empower various government and public bodies to ensure these rights.

A characteristic element of liberal democracy is an “open society”, characterized by tolerance, pluralism, coexistence and competition of the widest range of socio-political views. Through periodic elections, each of the groups holding different views has a chance to gain power. In practice, extremist or fringe viewpoints rarely play a significant role in the democratic process. However, the open society model makes it difficult for the ruling elite to maintain power, guarantees the possibility of a bloodless change of power and creates incentives for the government to respond flexibly to the needs of society [source not specified 897 days].

In a liberal democracy, the political group in power does not have to subscribe to all aspects of the ideology of liberalism (for example, it may advocate democratic socialism). However, it is obliged to obey the above-mentioned principle of the rule of law. The term liberal in this case is understood in the same way as in the era of bourgeois revolutions of the late 18th century: providing every person with protection from arbitrariness on the part of the authorities and law enforcement agencies.

Democratic character government structure enshrined in the fundamental laws and supreme precedent decisions that make up the constitution. The main purpose of the constitution is to limit the powers of officials and law enforcement agencies, as well as the will of the majority. This is achieved through a number of tools, the main ones of which are the rule of law, independent justice, separation of powers (by branches and at the territorial level) and a system of “checks and balances”, which ensures the accountability of some branches of government to others. Only such actions of government officials are lawful if they are carried out in accordance with the law published in writing and in due order.

Although liberal democracies include elements of direct democracy (referendums), the vast majority of supreme government decisions are made by the government. The policy of this government should depend only on the representatives of the legislature and the chief executive, who are determined by periodic elections. The subordination of the government to any unelected forces is not permitted. In the interval between elections, the government must operate in a mode of openness and transparency, and facts of corruption must be immediately made public.

One of the main provisions of liberal democracy is universal suffrage, which gives every adult citizen of the country an equal right to vote, regardless of race, gender, financial situation or education. The exercise of this right, as a rule, is associated with a certain registration procedure at the place of residence. Election results are determined only by those citizens who actually voted, but turnout often must exceed a certain threshold for the vote to be considered valid.

The most important task of electoral democracy is to ensure that elected representatives are accountable to the nation. Therefore, elections and referendums must be free, fair and honest. They must be preceded by free and fair competition between representatives of different political views, combined with equality of opportunity for election campaigns. In practice, political pluralism is determined by the presence of several (at least two) political parties who have significant power. The most important a necessary condition For this pluralism is freedom of speech. The choices of the people must be free from the dominant influence of armies, foreign powers, totalitarian parties, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies and any other powerful groups. Cultural, ethnic, religious and other minorities should have an acceptable level of opportunity to participate in decision-making, which is usually achieved by granting them partial self-government.

According to popular belief, a number of conditions must be met for liberal democracy to emerge. Such conditions include a developed justice system, legislative protection of private property, the presence of a broad middle class and a strong civil society.

Experience shows that free elections by themselves rarely ensure liberal democracy, and in practice often lead to “defective” democracies in which either some citizens are deprived voting rights either the elected representatives do not determine all government policy, or the executive branch subordinates the legislature and the judiciary, or the justice system is unable to enforce the principles laid down in the constitution. The latter is the most common problem.

Level material well-being in a country is also hardly a condition for a country's transition from an authoritarian regime to a liberal democracy, although research shows that this level plays a significant role in ensuring its sustainability.

There is a debate among political scientists about how sustainable liberal democracies are created. The most common two positions. According to the first of them, for the emergence of liberal democracy, a long-term split between the elites and the involvement of legal procedures, as well as broader sections of the population, in resolving conflicts is sufficient. The second position is that a long prehistory of the formation of democratic traditions, customs, institutions, etc. is necessary. of certain peoples.

Types of liberal democracies

The presence of liberal democracy is largely determined by the principles actually implemented and the compliance of the regime with the above criteria. For example, Canada is technically a monarchy, but is actually governed by a democratically elected parliament. In Great Britain formally supreme authority has a hereditary monarch, but in fact such power is possessed by the people, through their elected representatives (there is also the opposite point of view that parliamentarism in Great Britain is just a screen for absolute monarchy). The monarchy in these countries is largely symbolic.

There are many electoral systems for forming parliament, the most common of which are the majoritarian system and the proportional system. At majoritarian system the territory is divided into districts, in each of which the mandate goes to the candidate who receives the majority of votes. At proportional system Seats in parliament are distributed in proportion to the number of votes cast for parties. In some countries, part of the parliament is formed according to one system, and part according to another.

Countries also differ in the method of forming the executive and legislative branches. IN presidential republics these branches are formed separately, which ensures a high degree of separation by function. In parliamentary republics, the executive branch is formed by the parliament and is partially dependent on it, which ensures a more even distribution of power between the branches.

The Scandinavian countries are social democracies. This is due to the high level of social protection of the population, equality in living standards, free secondary education and healthcare, a significant public sector in the economy and high taxes. At the same time, in these countries the state does not interfere in pricing (even in the public sector, with the exception of monopolies), banks are private, and there are no obstacles to trade, including international trade; effective laws and transparent governments reliably protect the civil rights of people and the property of entrepreneurs.

Advantages:

First of all, liberal democracy is based on the rule of law and universal equality before it. [source not specified 409 days]

In a publication funded World Bank, it is argued that liberal democracy ensures the accountability of authorities to the nation. If the people are dissatisfied with the government's policies (due to corruption or excessive bureaucracy, attempts to circumvent laws, errors in economic policy, etc.), then the opposition has a high chance of winning in the next elections. After she comes to power, the most reliable way to stay on is to avoid the mistakes of her predecessors (dismiss corrupt or ineffective officials, comply with laws, attract competent economists, etc.) Thus, according to the authors of the work, liberal democracy ennobles the desire for power and forces the government to work for the good of the nation. This ensures a relatively low level of corruption.

At the same time, a number of countries (Switzerland, Uruguay) and regions (California) actively use elements of direct democracy: referendums and plebiscites.

Because the minority is able to influence decision-making, liberal democracy ensures the protection of private property for the wealthy. [source not specified 409 days] American author Alvin Powell argues that the most democratic countries in the world are characterized by the lowest levels of terrorism (English) . This effect may even extend beyond the region: statistics show that since the late 1980s, when Eastern Europe many countries have taken the path of liberal democracy, total number military conflicts, ethnic wars, revolutions, etc. in the world have sharply decreased (English) [not in the source].

A number of researchers believe that these circumstances (especially economic freedom) contribute to economic recovery and an increase in the level of well-being of the entire population, expressed in GDP per capita. At the same time, despite high rates economic growth, some liberal democratic countries are still relatively poor (for example, India, Costa Rica), while a number of authoritarian regimes, on the contrary, are thriving (Brunei).

According to a number of researchers, liberal democracies manage available resources more effectively when they are limited than authoritarian regimes. According to this view, liberal democracies are characterized by higher life expectancy and lower infant and maternal mortality, regardless of the level of GDP, income inequality or the size of the public sector.

Flaws

Liberal democracy is a type of representative democracy, which has attracted criticism from supporters of direct democracy. They argue that in a representative democracy, the power of the majority is expressed too rarely - at the time of elections and referendums. Real power is concentrated in the hands of a very small group of representatives. From this point of view, liberal democracy is closer to an oligarchy, while the development of technology, the growth of people’s education and the increase in their involvement in the life of society create the preconditions for transferring more and more power into the hands of the people directly.

Marxists and anarchists completely deny that liberal democracy is democracy, calling it a “plutocracy.” They argue that in any bourgeois democracy, real power is concentrated in the hands of those who control financial flows. Only very wealthy citizens can afford to campaign politically and spread their platform through the media, so only the elite or those who make deals with the elite can be elected. Such a system legitimizes inequality and facilitates economic exploitation. In addition, critics continue, it creates the illusion of justice, so that the discontent of the masses does not lead to riots. At the same time, “stuffing” certain information can cause a predictable reaction, which leads to manipulation of the consciousness of the masses by the financial oligarchy. Supporters of liberal democracy consider this argument to be devoid of evidence base: for example, the media rarely voices radical points of view because it is not interesting general public, and not because of censorship [source not specified 954 days]. However, they agree that campaign finance is an essential element in the electoral system and that in some cases it should be public. For the same reason, many countries have public media that pursue a policy of pluralism.

In an effort to maintain power, elected representatives are primarily concerned with measures that will allow them to maintain a positive image in the eyes of voters in the next elections. Therefore, they give preference to decisions that will bring political dividends in the coming months and years, to the detriment of unpopular decisions, the effect of which will appear only in a few years. However, doubts have been expressed whether this shortcoming is truly a shortcoming, since the implementation long-term forecasts is extremely difficult for society, and therefore an emphasis on short-term goals may be more effective.

On the other hand, to strengthen their voice, individual voters may support special lobbying groups. Such groups are able to obtain government subsidies and achieve solutions that serve their narrow interests, but do not serve the interests of society as a whole.

Libertarians and monarchists criticize liberal democracy because elected representatives often change laws without apparent need. This impedes the ability of citizens to comply with the law and creates opportunities for abuse by law enforcement agencies and officials. The complexity of legislation also leads to a slow and cumbersome bureaucratic machine.

There is a widespread belief that regimes with a high concentration of power are more effective in the event of war. It is argued that democracy requires a lengthy approval procedure; the people may object to the draft. At the same time, monarchies and dictatorships are able to quickly mobilize the necessary resources. However, the latter statement often contradicts the facts. In addition, the situation changes significantly if there are allies. Certainty in foreign policy leads to a greater effectiveness of military alliances between democratic regimes than between authoritarian ones.

Liberal democratic regime

Liberal democratic regimes exist in many countries. Its significance is such that some scientists believe: the liberal regime is not actually a regime for the exercise of power, but a condition for the existence of civilization itself at a certain stage of its development, even the final result, which ends the entire evolution of the political organization of society, the most effective form of such an organization. But it is difficult to agree with the last statement, since at present there is an evolution of political regimes and even such a form as the liberal democratic regime. New trends in the development of civilization, the desire of man to escape from environmental, nuclear and other disasters give rise to new forms of defining state power (the role of the UN is increasing, international rapid reaction forces are emerging, contradictions between human rights and nations and peoples are growing).

In the theory of state and law, political methods and methods of exercising power that are based on a system of the most democratic and humanistic principles are also called liberal.

These principles characterize the economic sphere of relations between the individual and the state. Under a liberal regime in this area, a person has property, rights and freedoms, is economically independent and on this basis becomes politically independent. In relation to the individual and the state, priority remains with the individual.

Liberal regime

The liberal regime is determined, first of all, by the needs of the commodity-money, market organization of the economy. The market requires equal, free, independent partners. A liberal state proclaims the formal equality of all citizens. In a liberal society, freedom of speech, opinions, forms of ownership is proclaimed, and space is given to private initiative. Individual rights and freedoms are not only enshrined in the constitution, but also become enforceable in practice.

Under liberalism, state power is formed through elections, the outcome of which depends not only on the opinion of the people, but also on the financial capabilities of certain parties necessary to conduct election campaigns. Public administration is carried out on the basis of the principle of separation of powers. A system of “checks and balances” helps reduce opportunities for abuse of power. Government decisions are made by majority vote.

Decentralization is used in public administration: the central government takes upon itself to resolve only those issues that the local government cannot resolve.

Along with other regimes, the liberal regime has its own problems, the main ones being the social protection of certain categories of citizens, the stratification of society, and the actual inequality of starting opportunities. The most effective use of this regime becomes possible only in a society characterized by a high level of economic and social development. The population must have a sufficiently high political, intellectual and moral consciousness, and legal culture. A liberal regime can only exist on a democratic basis; it grows out of the democratic regime itself.

Democratic regime

A democratic regime (Greek democratia - democracy) is one of the varieties of a liberal regime based on recognition of the principle of equality and freedom of all people, the participation of the people in government. Providing its citizens with broad rights and freedoms, a democratic state is not limited only to their proclamation, i.e. formal equality of legal opportunity. It provides them with a socio-economic basis and establishes constitutional guarantees of these rights and freedoms. As a result, broad rights and freedoms become real, and not just formal.

In a democratic state, the people are the source of power. And this becomes not just a declaration, but a factual state of affairs. Representative bodies and officials in a democratic state, as a rule, they are elected, but change Political Views and professionalism. Professionalization of power - hallmark state in which there is a democratic political regime. The activities of people's representatives should also be based on moral principles and humanism.

A democratic society is characterized by the development of associative ties at all levels public life. In democracy, there are many institutions and political pluralism: parties, trade unions, popular movements, mass associations, associations, unions, circles, sections, societies, clubs unite people according to different interests and inclinations.

Referendums, plebiscites, popular initiatives, discussions, demonstrations, rallies, and meetings are becoming necessary attributes of public life. Citizens' associations participate in the management of state affairs. Along with the executive power, a parallel system of direct representation is being created at the local level. Public bodies participate in the development of decisions, advice, recommendations, and also exercise control over the executive branch. Thus, the participation of the people in managing the affairs of society becomes truly massive and goes along two lines: the election of professional managers and direct participation in solving public affairs (self-government, self-regulation), as well as control over the executive branch.

Governance in a democratic state is carried out according to the will of the majority, but taking into account the interests of the minority. Therefore, decisions are made both by voting and using the method of agreement when making decisions.

The system of division of powers between central and local authorities occupies an important place in a democratic regime. The central state power takes upon itself only those issues on the solution of which the existence of society as a whole and its viability depend: ecology, division of labor in the world community, conflict prevention, etc. Other issues are resolved decentralized. As a result of this, the question of concentration, monopolization of power and the need to neutralize it is removed.

Of course, a democratic regime also has its problems: excessive social stratification society, at times a kind of dictatorship of democracy (authoritarian rule of the majority), and in some historical conditions this regime leads to a weakening of power, disruptions of order, even a slide into anarchy, and sometimes creates conditions for the existence of destructive, extremist, separatist forces. But still, the social value of a democratic regime is much higher than some of its negative specific historical forms.

It should also be borne in mind that a democratic regime often appears in those states where social struggle The ruling elite and the ruling strata of society are forced to make concessions to the people, other social forces, and agree to compromises in the organization and exercise of state power.

A democratic regime exists in many countries, for example in the USA, Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and in many European countries.

Liberal democracy is a form of political order that has two fundamental qualities. The government is "liberal" in terms of the core values ​​that underlie a given political system, and "democratic" in terms of shaping its political structure.

The key values ​​associated with the liberal democratic political system go back to traditional liberal ideas about limiting power and are designed to ensure the existence of a wide range of civil and human rights. The above can be guaranteed by such instruments as a constitution, a bill of rights, the principle of separation of powers, a system of checks and balances, and most importantly, the principle of the rule of law.

The functioning of a democratic political system reflects the will of the people (at least the majority of them). Social consent within the framework of a liberal democratic political system is ensured through representation: liberal democracy (sometimes also defined as representative) involves a small group of people making political decisions on behalf of all citizens of the country.

Those who assume such duties and responsibilities act with the consent of the citizens and rule on their behalf. Meanwhile, the right to make decisions is conditional on the presence of public support, and it can be denied in the absence of approval of the government’s actions from the population to which the government is accountable. In this case, citizens deprive their elected representatives of the right to exercise power and transfer them into the hands of other persons.

Thus, elections, during which the will of the population is manifested regarding the actions and personnel of the bodies government, is a fundamental function of liberal democracy. Electoral system All adult citizens of the country are given the right to vote, regular elections are ensured, and open competition between political parties aspiring to power is ensured.

Liberal Democratic political system primarily associated with first world countries with a capitalist economic system.

See also the articles “Rule of Law”, “Elections”, “Civil Rights”, “Democracy”, “Legitimacy”, “Liberalism”, “Marxism-Leninism”, “Accountability”, “Political Tolerance”, “Human Rights”, “Representation”, “Separation of powers”.