Political participation - category rather complex and meaningful.It implies, first of all, the activity or inactivity of the individual or collective in society.
Political participation in a general sense - a group or private actions aimed at influencing the authorities, no matter what level it is.At the present stage, this phenomenon is considered as complex and multidimensional.It includes a large number of techniques that help to influence the government.The participation of citizens in political life, the degree of activity depends on factors of social, psychological, cultural, historical, economic or other nature.The individual realizes it when entering into formal, orderly relationship with the various groups or with other people.
Political participation is of three kinds:
- unconscious (non-free), that is, one that is based on coercion, customary or spontaneous action;
- conscious, but still non-free, when a person is forced to meaningfully follow some regulations, standards;
- conscious and at the same time free, that is, the individual is able to make a choice on their own, thus expanding the limits of their own capabilities in the world of politics.
Sidney Verba and Gabriel Almond created a theoretical model of political culture.Political participation of the first type are called parokialnym, that is, one that is limited to the elementary interests;the second type - poddannicheskoj, and the third - the participative.Also, these researchers identified activity of transitional forms, which combine features of two neighboring types.
Political participation and its forms are constantly evolving.Perfection of his old views and new occur in any socio-historical process that has value.This is especially true transition points, such as the country from a monarchy to a multiparty system by the absence of such organizations, to the independence of the position of the colony, from authoritarianism to democracy, and so on.. In the 18-19 centuries in the background of a general modernization and expansion occurred in different political participationgroups and categories of the population.
Since the activity of people is determined by many factors, and the uniform classification of its forms does not exist.One of them proposes to consider the political participation of the following indicators:
- legitimate (elections, petitions, demonstrations and meetings, agreed with the authorities) and illegitimate (terrorism, coup, insurrection, or other forms of disobedience, citizens);
- institutionalized (participation in the party vote) and non-institutionalized (groups that have political goals and are not recognized by law, mass unrest);
- with local and national character.
Tipologizatsija may have other options.But in any case, it must meet the following criteria:
- political participation should be manifested in the form of the act, and not just at the level of emotions;
- it must be voluntary (except for military service, paying taxes or festive demonstration under totalitarianism);
- as it has completed a real choice, ie not be fictitious, but real.
Some scientists, including Lipset and Huntington believe that the type of participation directly influence the type of political regime.For example, in a democratic system it occurs voluntarily and independently.And under a totalitarian regime mobilized political participation, compulsory when the masses are involved only symbolically, to simulate the support of the authorities.Some forms of activity may even distort the psychology of groups and individuals.A clear indication of this is the variety of fascism and totalitarianism.
