Multi-party system in Russia. Formation of the multi-party system and its features

The current political situation in Russia is characterized by the formation of a democratic regime, the main feature of which is the existence of political and ideological pluralism, the rule of law and civil society. This process is complex and time-consuming. One of its most important manifestations can serve as the formation of such institutions as a multi-party political system and responsible state apparatus to the people .

The party system and its essence

The political system of any state is an extremely complex mechanism, which includes many diverse elements. One of its linking elements is the party system, which is not only the totality of the parties of a given state, but also the social and legal mechanisms of interaction between them, as well as the extent to which citizens understand the necessity and importance of their existence.

The main types of party systems

Most Western political scientists and social researchers have long come to the conclusion that the existence of a particular party system rather accurately reflects the political development of society. Thus, the multiparty system testifies both to the development of the social structure and the high degree of influence of civil society on the decisions of the state authorities. On the contrary, a one-party system is an invariable sign of a totalitarian society, which shows that it is much easier for people to shift responsibility to officials than to take it upon themselves.

In a number of states (for example, in the United States and Great Britain) a bipartisan system has been operating for a relatively long time. At the same time, bipartisanship does not mean the existence of just such a large number of parties. It's just a real struggle going on between the leading political forces, for other parties and movements there is practically no chance to come to power.

Multi-party system and its features

Features of the multi-party system include both external differences from other systems, and a complex internal entity. The first can be attributed to the presence of more than two parties, most of which have real chances of coming to power, developed electoral legislation, active activities of civil society institutions, the replacement of the political elite.

Internal features stem from the fact that the essence of a multi-party system is a complex compromise between a huge number of participants. This is the most public system, built on the basis of competition and mutual respect for each other. It allows each citizen to find exactly the political force that will most fully represent his interests and the interests of those around him. This is a multi-party system, which forces every citizen to be constantly interested in the events taking place in the country.

Classic Type

A multi-party system exists in different varieties. It depends not only on the party structure, but also on the political tradition and political culture existing in this or that society.

Classical is the so-called multi-party fragmentation, which exists now in countries such as Denmark, Austria, Belgium. There is no leader party in this system, none of the political forces gets an absolute majority in the elections, therefore it is forced to join certain coalitions. This system is unstable, so it tends to shift to another state.

Other varieties of multi-party systems

One of the most stable states of the political system is associated with a block multi-party system. This multi-party system, acting, for example, in France, divides all major political forces into several main blocks. Such a structure forces the parties and their leaders to make certain concessions with their allies, to take a more balanced view of the preparation of electoral programs and inner-party discipline.

Finally, there is a multiparty system, in which one, the largest association, plays a key role. Here, the opposition forces are fragmented and unable to offer citizens a distinct alternative. The main drawback of such a regime, which is typical, for example, for India and Sweden, is that it often leads to stagnation in political life and the maturing in the bowels of society aspirations for revolutionary change.

The formation of a multiparty system in Russia: the pre-revolutionary period

The multiparty system in Russia began to take shape much later than in most developed countries of Western Europe and America. The main reason for this was the dominant several centuries of serfdom with a pronounced autocratic power.

Reforms of the sixties of the XIX century led not only to rapid economic growth, but also to significant changes in the political arena of the country. This, above all, refers to the process of a sharp politicization of society, when different social strata were looking for the opportunity to influence the autocracy that gradually lost its influence.

The multiparty system in Russia dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when more than fifty parties were formed over an incomplete decade. Undoubtedly, this process was directly related to the turbulent events of the first Russian revolution and the publication of the Manifesto of October 17, 1905. Among the most notable political organizations is the RSDLP, the Constitutional-Democratic Party, the Octobrists, the Union of the Russian People and the Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries.

At the same time, it should be noted that the formation of a multi-party system in our country took place under conditions of serious social changes, and before the revolution this process was never completed. The main obstacles here were a complex multi-stage system of elections, unequal conditions for parties in political activity, as well as the prevailing position of the autocracy in the political arena.

The Soviet period

With the advent of the revolutionary Bolshevik party in October 1917, the activity of all other political associations began to gradually curtail. By the summer of 1918 the RSDLP (b) remained the only legally functioning political party, all the others were either closed down or self-dissolved. For many decades, the country has established a monopoly of one power.

The multiparty system in the USSR began to revive in the late 1980s, when opposition political movements began to appear in connection with the restructuring and the policy of democratization of society in the country. This process went especially fast at the end of the sixth article of the Constitution in 1990, which guaranteed the dominant position of the CPSU.

Already in the first months after the famous March Congress of People's Deputies, the Ministry of Justice of the USSR registered about twenty political parties and movements. By the time of the collapse of the state, there were already more than sixty.

The formation of a multi-party system in Russia: a modern stage

The formation of a multiparty system in Russia has moved to a qualitatively new level after the adoption in December 1993 of a new Constitution. It is here, in the thirteenth article, that such a political and legal institution as a multi-party system is enshrined. It implies the existence of an unlimited number of parties, which, on the one hand, have the right to legally fight for power, and on the other - must be responsible for their actions to the voters.

In Russia, at the present time, there is no official ideology, so political parties can have both a right and a left deviation. The main condition is the absence in their program requirements of calls for racial or national discrimination, as well as for revolutionary actions with the aim of radically changing the existing system. Mindful of the Soviet experience, the creation of party cells in factories, organizations and institutions is prohibited.

The largest and most famous political movements, whose activities are no longer a single election cycle, include the Communist Party, United Russia, Yabloko, LDPR, and Just Russia. These parties differ from each other not only by program requirements, but also by their organizational structure and methods of working with the population.

Features of the modern Russian multi-party system

Considering the formation of a multi-party system in our country, analyzing its features, it should be remembered that its formation and development took place under difficult conditions of transition from one social system to another. In addition, one should keep in mind the peculiarity of the folding of domestic parties, as well as the skeptical attitude of most citizens toward the party system itself.

One of the most important components of the multi-party process in our country should recognize that it is spasmodic. The multi-party system in modern Russia is strongly influenced by external processes. This is due, first of all, to the fact that many parties are formed exclusively from immediate goals, without setting themselves the solution of serious social and ideological tasks.

The peculiarity of the multiparty system in Russia is also the fact that almost all parties (except, perhaps, the KPRF) are created around a specific leader, and not as spokespersons for the interests of certain social strata or classes. Leaders, in turn, view the creation of a political association as an opportunity for themselves to enter the echelons of power and integrate into the existing political model.

The main difficulties and ways to solve them

The main difficulty in the process of development of political and ideological pluralism in our country is due to the fact that the basic ideological core has not been developed in the society for more than twenty years of transition. In many respects, this is why the parties are oriented to immediate benefits, not caring about systematic systematic work. The way out of this situation can be a consistent joint work of the state and civil society, which will lead to the development of understandable ideological guidelines for all.

Another difficulty is that the multi-party system, the examples of which were considered above, in most countries was formed in the process of so-called bourgeois revolutions. In our country, the multiparty system began to develop after seventy years of existence of a rigid authoritarian model. This, in turn, left an imprint on the attitude of ordinary citizens to power, on their desire and desire to actively participate in the life of society.

Main conclusions and perspectives

One-party and multi-party systems in different countries reflect the situation in political spheres, give an idea of the traditions and mentality of the people. Modern Russia is in a difficult transition period, when for a long time the installations considered to be unshakable proved to be rapidly destroyed, and new ideological landmarks were not formed.

In these conditions, a multiparty system is doomed to a long and complex process of its formation. At the same time, world experience makes it possible to assume that all major difficulties will be overcome from time to time, and Russia will move to more active construction of a modern democratic society.