Civil society - a phenomenon that has been actively studied by scientists of different fields - economics, sociology, law.And there is still no common understanding of its essence.What are the concepts that explain what is civil society?The concept, the principles, the structure of it - how they are interpreted by researchers?
definition of civil society
first aspect that we look at - definition of the term in question.There are many approaches to the definition of what civil society (concept, structure, signs it).There is the concept proposed by scientists and philosophers of antiquity and the Middle Ages, there is a theory of sociologists and economists of 19-20 centuries, has modern ideas.
Even if we try to explore what constitutes civil society in the modern sense, is again confronted with a lot of interpretations of this phenomenon, which can be very disparate.Therefore, considering this or that interpretation of the term in question, it is necessary to realize that none of the points of view can not be regarded as generally recognized, even in narrow scientific circles.It's just a version of individual researchers.
society of free people
In accordance with one of the common concepts of civil society should be understood as a union of free individuals.In the aspect of the economic component of this means that everyone is included in the structure of society, - the owner.It depends on the amount of personal labor investment, knowledge and skills can increase the amount of its assets and dispose of them at its discretion.The man in the modern civil society free to choose his profession, place of residence, building up family relations.
Another aspect of human freedom - political.Man may delegate power and administrative authority within the framework of democratic mechanisms, to participate in the election itself, organize local government, to exercise social activity.Also, the aspect of freedom is expressed in the right of the citizen to choose the political preferences, be part of those or other parties and associations.
social aspect of human freedom in a modern society is reflected in the fact that no one has the right to impose on him a model of behavior.He guided the personal ethics will determine how to behave in relationships with other people.This aspect of freedom is complemented by the presence of opportunity to express their views publicly - at meetings, in the media.
mutual interests
Using these or other channels to express their interest, a person in the modern civil society at the same time obliged to take into account the interests of other people.In this sense, his freedom is restricted where the affected priorities of others.One of the criteria maturity of a society is that all the participants were aware of the fact that they have not only rights but also duties (which are directly derived from them).
dialectical totality
Actually, the first time the term "civil society" concept, structure, signs of it were put into public circulation Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, in his book "Philosophy of Law".The great German philosopher considered that civil society - is a dialectical combination of different relationships - family, social, as well as those in which the State participates.In accordance with the concepts of Hegel, society - is the environment, which is a set of requirements.Other key components are its religion, state, law, family, culture, and other elements.Civil society according to Hegel - one of the highest levels of human development.People who do not dorosshih culturally before it, are wild, undeveloped community.
In Hegel's concept closest to the civil acts classical bourgeois society.The central element of society in this theory - a man, his activity aimed at the realization of various needs.An important nuance the concept that individuals can achieve its goals only if the interaction with other people.
Karl Marx has added the teaching of Hegel's economic categories, which were based mainly industrial relations, as well as components such as base and superstructure.This concept was largely Soviet leadership for school social studies.On its basis, it was formed principles of political economy, widely spread in the scientific community of the USSR.
build communism
concept of civil society, the structure of civil society in the Communist interpretation are interesting in that they are not assumed a significant role of the economic factor in the capitalist his understanding.The fact is that with appropriate formation disappears private property, and the possibility of implementing personal priorities person to a large extent depend on the need to follow the principles and standards established at the state level.
theory of non-interference in accordance with one of the modern interpretations, civil society should be understood as a medium, which develops independently of the state and subject to interference from his side.The theory as a whole is close to what we considered at the beginning of the article, where the primary criteria for the existence of society in favor of human freedom.However, this interpretation, which is determined by what is civil society, the concept, structure, signs it has a pronounced economic connotation.
That is the state of society allows entities to operate independently with the expectation that they will be able to provide for themselves, such as opening a business or getting demanded profession in order to subsequently find a job without any problems.In turn, in societies where individuals are unable to maintain their economic viability, without a strong state can not do.But if society is willing to do business and study, then power may be limited to a minimum intervention in the relevant communication, such as legislative regulation of key economic areas in the interests of the citizens.
Priority personal interest
concept of civil society, the structure of the civil society in modern theories are often supplemented by ideas about what is peculiar to humans to interact with other individuals, mainly because of self-interest.But this mechanism is unusual in that the priorities of the individual (in this similarity with the concept of the theory of Hegel) can not be done without communication with others.
What is civil society in Russia?To answer this question, researchers are trying many, but it does not make a lot easier than to formulate a universal definition of what society in general.There are many interpretations of the Russian model of civil society.Give a definite answer to researchers in particular is not easy though, because that Russia - a country that is in a relatively short period of time has changed several social formations: the Empire in society begins to dominate the bourgeois accents, later they were replaced by the socialist model of communication, after the collapse of the Soviet Union gained urgency neoliberal approachesdevelopment of economy and society.
of civil society
We studied one of the interpretations of the term "civil society" (the concept, the essence).The structure of the relevant social phenomenon - we are interested in the following aspect.Just as is the case with the definition of what a civil society, about its structure, we can say that there are a large number of options for its understanding, represented in the scientific and expert community.
structure - a combination of the constituent elements of civil society.They are expected, despite a possible dissimilarity generally interact in compliance with the necessary balance to ensure the stability of the society and its development.
We have considered the theory that human freedom - the main criterion on which is built the notion of civil society.The structure of the civil society, of which it is composed - issues which can also be seen in correlation with the concept we studied.That is, the components of the elements of society can be studied through their activity involving the observance of key criteria - the guarantee of human freedom.
concept of civil society, the structure of civil society - a phenomenon that can be studied in a variety of scientific approaches.Many modern sociologists prefer to highlight four main elements that form the structure of society.Consider their essence.
first element of civil society, if you follow the interpretations in question - it is a social system.It is an environment in which individuals interact with each other, express, on the one hand, their interests, exercise their rights, on the other - combine them with the priorities of other people and perform prescribed by various standards obligations.
in social systems can be implemented very different relationship, but the key one family researchers believe.Among the major incentives interaction between people - their desire to find someone with whom you can build a family.Another important factor of communication of individuals in society - an objective need for them to communicate.Man, according to the common point of view - it is a social person by nature.He is hard to live alone.
second element of civil society - the economic system.Institutions forming it form the basis of life-support society.As part of the economic system as a person realizes their interests predetermine the needs and assists, where possible or necessary, to ensure the priorities of others.
Getting a job, a citizen, on the one hand, it does because of the need of life support themselves and their families, on the other - helping your employer develop, make a profit.Among the key components of the economic system of modern civil society - property relations.A person may own something, to exchange something, sell, buy, and in most cases it is connected with the realization of personal or family needs.
third element of a modern civil society - a political and legal system.It is a set of institutions through which the management of the state and more localized administrative units - the subjects of the federation, if we talk about Russia, the municipalities.The political system ensures the stability and sovereignty of society.The absence or weakness of state institutions, usually accompanied by a decline in the quality of social communications.However, how stable will be the political and legal system, society defines itself through elections and the organization of various forms of self-government.
fourth element of a modern civil society - is the spiritual and cultural system.It can be considered one of the most important in terms of the stability of the society and the historical continuity of its key values, which is one of the main criteria for the stability of society.Spiritual and cultural component of social communications can play an indispensable role, when, for example, in the economic or political sphere there are crises.It is also appropriate social values capable of giving guidance about the mechanisms of building a balanced interaction of individuals in an environment where the majority of them tend to act primarily on the basis of their interests.
These are examples of concepts, according to which can be determined by the concept of civil society, the structure of civil society.As we noted earlier in this article, there are many interpretations regarding the topic.Therefore, the interpretation given by us - this is only version, but note quite logical and reflecting the specifics of the whole building communication in modern societies.
functions of civil society
We explored what is understood in different interpretations of civil society (concept, structure).The functions of the relevant category - the following interesting aspect of us.Again, it should be said that there are a large number of disparate theories about the respective characteristics of the study of society.
On one of them, civil society is responsible for the successful implementation of its priorities person, talents, vocations.People always something to aspire to.And if civil society will contribute to their desires, then it means that the corresponding social institution is operating normally.
Many researchers are trying to answer the question of what is a civil society and its functions, come to the conclusion that the environment - a necessary condition for development of the state.If society does not meet the necessary criteria of sustainability, and political power soon lost the ability to solve the tasks entrusted to it.In this sense, the state and society are characterized by mutual dependency, one complements the other.
Another interpretation of the term suggests that the primary function of society - is to protect the interests of citizens.People need to feel confident that the resources available to them for the realization of personal needs will not disappear as a result of the will of other subjects, which may occur through direct intervention in the private life.
How is civil society
Another important aspect that may be considered after we have explored the concept of explaining what civil society (concept, structure), - the formation of society.Under the influence of some factors produced an appropriate medium of human interaction?
Researchers distinguish the following list of them:
- economic;
- legal;
- technology;
- cultural.
That is, with the development of each of the selected areas to develop mechanisms in society, in which individuals are beginning to interact, creating a system based on different relationships.
So we learned the basic concept, in which scientists consider that a civil society (concept, structure, functions) that it is in the vision of the classical scholars, adherents of communist views, modern experts.We have seen that the phenomenon in question - the factor of formation of active discussions.If we try to summarize what the civil society (concept, structure, function), briefly, it is possible to characterize this phenomenon as follows: an environment in which individuals are motivated by self-interest, spiritual, cultural landmarks and public will, implement various communication for the purpose ofprotect their interests, as well as ensuring the stability of the political and social system.
