What does the term "free society" mean? Free society: different models

For each person there is a proper concept of a free society: freedom of thought, the right to choose, freedom from stereotypes ... A society free from the shackles of the government and excessive tyranny on the part of the authorities is considered the most desirable in the modern world.

Utopia

Complete free-thinking, lack of obstacles in challenging someone's ideas, low level of influence of various power structures on individuals - all this, according to many years of research, can not be fully realized in a reasonable society. Most scientists consider a free society to be a utopia, but all because within a certain framework it is impossible to realize such a dream, because in any case the rights of other people will be infringed.

For example, during the consideration of someone else's proposal, some people will be unhappy and express their discontent directly to the author of the idea. In view of the groundlessness of such a protest, an important bill can not enter into legal force, which is fraught with the inhibition of the further development of the society.

The term "free society": what do people understand by it?

For many, this concept is associated with emancipation in behavior, in choosing a sexual partner (bisexualism, homosexuality), as well as with anarchy and total lawlessness. Rarely individuals are able to fully understand what a free society really is. The concept of such social groups is deciphered in this way: the rights of the state are limited, it has the opportunity to intervene in the life of an individual in case of necessity to maintain the normal functioning and development of the society. That is, the power structures that represent power can control a person only if there is a possible threat on his part to other people.

Signs of a free society

A free-thinking society, where the key figure is the people and their needs, can not develop without certain factors. Freedom of every member of society consists not only in his right to choose, but also in the opportunity to act as he pleases, naturally, within the framework of established principles and morality.

The following are considered as signs:

• Freedom of entrepreneurial activity.
• A large number of political parties representing the interests of different strata of the population.
• Democracy, elected as the main option for governing the state.
• Everyday life of citizens is regulated remotely, with the help of generally accepted democratic laws and moral norms.

Sociological models of society

Various models of a free society, like other social groups, are presented below:

• Functionalist. The society is stable and relatively stable, integrated structure. It consists of a society whose activities are aimed at ensuring stability, while taking into account the values of the people.
• Sociocultural. It unites the doctrine of man from sociology and anthropology. Here the following aspects are important: morality, social norms, the role of man in the environment, the family, the interrelation of people among themselves.
• Conflict. The society is constantly changing, its changes can be either individual or large-scale. Social conflicts are inevitable, because the society is based on forcing some individuals to subordinate to others.

Examples

Despite the fact that the very concept of a free society is considered a utopia, there are 2 types of political management systems used in different states. Examples of a free society:

• Liberal state.
• Democratic state.

Civil society can also be called free . And from history, as an example, the USSR could be brought. But here there is one nuance. Since the formation of the Land of Soviets, the word "freedom" has appeared in virtually every slogan of various parties. However, over time it became clear that the population of the state can hardly be called a free society. Undoubtedly, Utopia was present in some aspects, but still the authorities conducted total control over their citizens (KGB, intelligence, "vigilant fellow citizens", combatants).

Democratic state

Democracy is the fundamental way of governing the country as a whole and members of various social groups in particular. This is a rather complex, multifaceted notion. A society that is free from excessive attention from the side of justice, as well as aimed at realizing the will, desires and interests of the people, is democratic. In modern politics, there are rarely states that choose an exceptionally democratic regime of government.

Symptoms

A society, free and democratic, can not exist without certain conditions. Its development is directly related to the presence of:

• The suffrage (and for each member of society).
• Equality, freedom of speech.
• State power, completely dependent on the opinion and will of the people.
• Parties, organizations that meet the preferences and interests of citizens.

The liberal state

In liberalism, the prerogative is the freedom of the individual of each individual citizen. And democracy, various moral principles and foundations are means for achieving freedom. In a liberal state, no attempts by the authorities to control the spiritual, economic activities of the population are acceptable. However, there is one thing in the political regime of this kind: a society free from pressure from law enforcement and other instruments of power is not fully free. The state still controls individuals, as if to say: "You can change and do anything, but you can not change the power." The liberal regime is considered an unstable, transitional form of government.

Symptoms

Liberalism is characterized by the following features:

1. Political instability.
2. Permanent formation of various propaganda opposition parties.
3. The separation of power into judicial, executive, legislative, in order to protect citizens from possible arbitrariness on the part of any structures.
4. Implementation of programs that do not have the power and popularity among the people.
5. Call for free market relations, recognition of private property.
6. Adoption of the rights and freedoms of the people, development of independent sources of information from the authorities.