Civil society is one of the concepts of sociological and political theory (along with the concepts of freedom, justice, equality, democracy), which have both theoretical and practical significance. Concepts of this kind are not easy to define, and their application means not only a certain area of uncertainty, but also greater or lesser differences in their interpretation. But, nevertheless, it is possible to isolate two specific parameters or functions of the concept of civil society: theoretical-analytical and normative.
In the first meaning, it is used as a theoretical category for analyzing and explaining the phenomena of social reality. In this sense, civil society is an aggregated concept that denotes a specific set of public communications and social connections, institutions and values, the main subjects of which are: a citizen with his civil rights and civil (not political or governmental) organizations: associations, unions, social movements and civil institutions.
In contrast to the first theoretical and analytical function, in the second function the concept of civil society has predominantly the status of a normative concept that contributes to the motivation and mobilization of citizens and other social actors for the development of various contents and forms of civic activity. This function takes on particular importance in societies in a state of transformation.
Speaking about civil society, we should proceed from the concept of man and citizen, i.e. his rights and freedoms, as the main determinant political system a society that strives to be modern and democratic. Now the concept of citizenship must also be rehabilitated, i.e. political and economic subjectivity, moral, religious and creative autonomy should be restored to man. It is difficult to imagine that a person can be free as long as an economic monopoly of any kind severely limits his activity.
It is no coincidence that civil society is considered synonymous with bourgeois society, for it emerges only with the creation of modern bourgeois society Kola D. Civil society. M. 1999. P. 452.. Only in this way does space open for the individual, his independence and initiative.
The very name “civil society” comes from the concept of citizen. It arises with the emergence of an independent individual, endowed with a certain set of rights and freedoms and at the same time bearing moral and other responsibility for his actions to society. The most important prerequisite for the formation of civil society is the elimination of class privileges and the increasing importance of the individual. The individual is transformed from a subject, obligated to be personally loyal to the monarch, into a citizen with legal rights equal to all other citizens.
People and their associations (economic, political, religious, professional, cultural, etc.) constitute civil society.
An essential element of civil society is the rule of law. This is broader than the idea of the rule of law.
Autonomy of society - important element civil society, and this means the autonomy of various public spheres and associations - the economy (i.e. enterprises), trade unions, universities, the press, science, citizens' associations and individual professions, religious associations, i.e. churches.
The role of the state in relation to these social agents should be limited to establishing the most general framework in the form of a law regulating the rules of the game, which everyone must adhere to so as not to jeopardize the same rights and freedoms of other members of society. Economic, social, political and cultural pluralism, which is the alpha and omega of civil society, is established on the basis of the autonomy of social factors, the rights and freedoms of man and citizen.
The autonomy of various spheres of society implies that they can self-organize into appropriate associations, democratic inner life which is important for civil society.
The main condition for the active life of civil society is social freedom, democratic social management, the existence of a public sphere of political activity and political debate. A free citizen is the basis of civil society. Social freedom creates the opportunity for a person’s self-realization in society.
An important condition for the functioning of civil society is transparency and the associated high awareness of citizens, which allows them to realistically assess the economic situation, see social problems and take steps to resolve them.
And finally, the fundamental condition for the successful functioning of civil society is the presence of appropriate legislation and constitutional guarantees of its right to exist.
Under non-democratic regimes (for example, under totalitarianism), there is no and cannot be a civil society. In democratic countries, there is no choice - to be or not to be a civil society - because it becomes necessary. Civil society is the most important component of a democratic state. The degree of development of civil society reflects the level of development of democracy.
Civil society is a human community that is emerging and developing in democratic states, represented by: 1. a network of voluntarily formed non-state structures (unions, organizations, associations, unions, centers, clubs, foundations, etc.) in all spheres of society and 2. a set of non-state relations - economic, political, social, spiritual, religious and others.
Specifying this definition, we note the following:
- -this “network” can be very dense, including in some countries hundreds of thousands of various types of associations of citizens or enterprises (a sign of a highly developed democratic society), and “loose”, numbering a modest number of such organizations (a sign of states taking their first steps in a democratic development);
- - associations that make up civil society reflect the widest range of economic, family, legal, cultural and many other interests of citizens (enterprises) and are created in order to satisfy these interests;
- - the specificity of all organizations that form civil society is that they are created not by the state, but by citizens and enterprises themselves; they exist autonomously from the state, but, of course, within the framework of current laws;
- - associations that make up civil society arise, as a rule, spontaneously (due to the emergence of a specific interest and need for its implementation in a group of citizens or enterprises). Then some part of these associations may cease to exist. However, the overwhelming majority of them become long-lived, constantly active, gaining strength and authority over time;
- -civil society as a whole is a spokesman for public opinion, which serves as a unique form of manifestation of its political power.
There are general reasons that fuel the process of creation and development of civil society, obviously quite serious. There are many of them, but there are three main, fundamental ones.
The first reason is related to private property. In a developed democratic society, the overwhelming majority of the population are private owners. Of course, representatives of big business are few in number. However, the middle class is developed and numerous. For the vast majority of these owners, private property is a means of generating income and a means of livelihood for their families. Not only do they have something to lose, but with the loss of property they are deprived of the most important thing - a source of livelihood. Therefore, it is not surprising that the preservation of property, the creation optimal conditions Energetic efforts of its owners are directed towards its functionality.
The most effective are collective efforts: various types of associations of owners with the same interests; associations of farmers, unions of entrepreneurs, bankers, etc. Their representatives constantly interact with the relevant commissions in legislative bodies and with the government, seeking to optimize the conditions for the functioning of private property owned by members of these organizations.
The second reason is closely related to the first. We are talking about a free market economy. A democratic society, along with other freedoms, presupposes an economic system that develops according to its own laws. Only by observing these laws can you successfully conduct entrepreneurial activity. And most importantly, it is very difficult to resist the laws of the market alone. Various types of associations of entrepreneurs, that is, civil society organizations, are designed to facilitate this task.
The third reason for the need for the emergence and functioning of civil society is as follows. A democratic state is called upon to satisfy the interests and needs of its citizens as much as possible. However, the interests emerging in society are so numerous, so diverse and differentiated that practically the state cannot have information about all these interests. This means that it is necessary to inform the state about the specific interests of citizens, which can only be satisfied by the forces and means of the state itself. And again, the effect is achieved if we act through civil society organizations.
There are many civil society organizations in every democratic country. They can be organized in connection with specific problems of the region and even a separate city, in connection with professional interests (for example, various guilds of film and theater actors), these are organizations and foundations of a charitable nature, associations related to the need to restore monuments of great cultural significance. This also includes numerous movements (for example, in connection with the protest against the conviction of innocent people), etc. Many such organizations and civil society movements are growing to a national scale. A typical example in this regard is the green movement in Western European countries.
civil society law concept
THE CONCEPT OF “CIVIL SOCIETY”
2.1. Expanding the concept of civil society
Taking into account modern socio-political realities, we will try to define the concept of “civil society”.
The concept of “civil society”, as a rule, is used in comparison with the concept of “state”. According to the German political scientist I. Izensee, “the state exists in the form of something that opposes “society”.” “State” and “civil society” are concepts that reflect different aspects of the life of society that oppose each other. Civil society constitutes the sphere of absolute freedom of private individuals in relations with each other. It appears as a social, economic, cultural space in which free individuals interact, realizing private interests and making individual choices. On the contrary, the state is a space of totally regulated relationships between politically organized subjects: state structures and political parties adjacent to them, pressure groups, etc.
Civil society and the state complement each other and depend on one another. Without a mature civil society, it is not possible to build a legal democratic state, since it is conscious free citizens who are able to create the most rational forms of human society. Thus, if civil society acts as a strong mediating link between a free individual and the centralized state will, then the state is called upon to counteract disintegration, chaos, crisis, decline and provide conditions for the realization of the rights and freedoms of an autonomous individual.
The division of civil society and the state is quite arbitrary; this is done in order to understand the mechanisms public life, the degree of freedom and non-freedom of individuals, the level of political development.
Thus, civil society is a set of interpersonal relationships, family, social, economic, cultural, religious and other structures that develop in society outside the framework and without government intervention. A system of institutions and interpersonal relations independent of the state creates conditions for the self-realization of individuals and their groups and the satisfaction of their everyday needs.
However, in the literature on the topic under consideration there is no single concept of civil society. The following are concepts taken from different sources, nevertheless, they are all similar, but differ in some features through which the concept is defined.
Civil society is the sphere of self-government of free, property-owning citizens voluntarily united by interests social groups and individuals; a mechanism that allows the entire society to coexist with the state and protect human rights.
Civil society, a concept denoting a set of relations (socio-economic, in the field of culture), developing relatively independently, autonomously from state power. Civil society, in a certain sense, is primary in relation to state power and presupposes the existence of a wide range of democratic rights and freedoms of members of civil society. Full nationalization public relations leads to the curtailment of democracy and the establishment of totalitarianism.
Civil society is, firstly, a form of human community at a certain stage of development that, with the help of labor, satisfies the needs of its individuals. This is, secondly, a complex of voluntarily formed primary associations of individuals (families, cooperations, associations, business corporations, public organizations, professional, creative, sports, ethnic, religious and other associations, except state and political structures). This is, thirdly, the totality of non-state relations in society (economic, social, family, national, spiritual, moral, religious and others; this is production and privacy people, their customs, traditions, morals). This is, finally, the sphere of self-expression of free individuals and their associations, protected by laws from direct interference and arbitrary regulation of their activities by state authorities. All these elements of civil society are closely integrated, interdependent and interdependent.
The concept of civil or civil society denotes the basic principle of democracy: state and society mean a community of mature citizens who jointly determine their own destiny. In a narrower sense, civil society is defined as a democratic form of self-organization of society, independent of the state and outside the market.
Civil society can be thought of as a kind of social space in which people interact as individuals independent of each other and the state.
Civil society is a system for ensuring the functioning of the social, sociocultural and spiritual spheres, their reproduction and the transfer of their values from generation to generation. This is a system of independent and independent of the state public institutions and relations, the tasks of which include providing conditions for the self-realization of individuals and groups, satisfying private individual or collective interests and needs. Interests and needs are expressed through such institutions of civil society as the family, church, education system, scientific, professional and other associations, associations and organizations, etc.
Based on the above definitions, the following concept can be synthesized. Civil society is a form of organization of society, which is based on a civilized, independent, full-fledged individual (on whose essential features the quality and content of civil society and the state depend) interacting with the state, through democratic institutions (elections, etc.) and civil institutions societies (trade unions, etc.).
It should also be noted that some researchers are trying to define the concept of civil society through a democratic regime. However, civil society is also possible under other regimes. Civil society exists and functions in a dialectical, contradictory unity with the state. Under a democratic regime, it is in close contact and interacts with the state; under authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, it is in passive or active opposition to the regime. The state can significantly limit the life of civil society, but it is not capable of destroying or “abolishing” it: it is primary in relation to the state, the foundation of the state. In turn, civil society can also significantly limit the functions of the state, but replace and, even more so, abolish the state with modern stage It is not capable of developing society.
By its nature, civil society is a non-political society. This is evidenced by its millennia-long history before state and pre-class development: family, economic, spiritual and other relations successfully developed outside politics and without politics. But today, in the world of active domestic, foreign and international politics conducted by states, civil society is forced to engage in politics to the extent that objective reality forces it to do so. In the depths of civil society, political associations can and do arise, and public organizations and movements are politicized to varying degrees as necessary.
Civil society represented by emerging independent
associations of people (religious and political corporations, merchant guilds, cooperatives, trade unions, etc.), designed to express and protect their group and individual interests and rights, become in a special relationship with the state. The more developed civil society is, the greater the basis for democratic regimes. And, conversely, the less developed civil society is, the more likely the existence of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes is.
Civil society is often identified with the sphere of private interests and needs. Man by nature has the desire to live in a community of people, but at the same time he also has the tendency to do things his own way. It goes without saying that in realizing his inclination he encounters opposition from other individuals who also strive to do everything in their own way. But in order not to destroy the vital foundations of society, human civilization created civil society and the state with their most important institutions, defining them as the goal of achieving harmony between various interests, which, as historical experience shows, has always remained an unattainable ideal, a dream, but often realized into a concrete historical compromise that saves societies from mutual destruction.
Today in Russia there is an alienation between society and the authorities, which has given rise not only to the distrust of the “lower classes” towards the “tops”, but also the hostility of the “tops” to the “lower classes”, especially to any forms of independent activity of society, due to the underdevelopment of social interests. Hence the constant desire of the state not to interact with the institutions of civil society, but to manage them, to ignore impulses from below, trying to turn civil movements and associations into channels for one-way transmission of instructions “from top to bottom.”
IN modern Russia the formation of civil society occurs simultaneously with the transition to a democratic system of government and a market economy. And in this transition, civil society must help Russia. It is a kind of “engine” in the development of the country towards building a rule of law state with a market economy. Currently this problem stands in the spotlight. Constantly in their speeches and addresses, the country's top leadership, political and public figures focus on the need to create a functioning civil society, and also the need for interaction between the state and government with civil society institutions in the formation of certain basic bills.
Currently, there are serious challenges in Russia that the state is not able to confront alone (terrorism, insufficient level and the pace of reform of government institutions, high level poverty and slow changes in the consciousness of the population, etc.). And only together with civil society can the state confront these challenges. Civil society should become an assistant to the state in solving these problems.
President Russian Federation V.V. Putin is convinced that “without a mature civil society it is impossible effective solution pressing problems people." “Only a developed civil society can ensure the inviolability of democratic freedoms and guarantees of human and civil rights.” It must be said that civil society begins with developed self-awareness, rising from the individual principles of the individual. They can be developed, first of all, through the efforts of the individual himself, his aspiration for responsible freedom and democracy. And only a free person can ensure economic growth and prosperity of the state as a whole.
Today in Russia there are elements of civil society that exist and function, present in all spheres of public life (political, economic, social, spiritual, etc.). For example, political parties, local governments, funds mass media, socio-political organizations, various environmental and human rights movements, ethnic and religious communities, sports associations, creative, scientific and cultural unions, unions of entrepreneurs and consumers, etc. In the economic sphere, there are organizations such as the “Association of Russian Banks”, “Union of Entrepreneurs and Tenants”, in social – “ Pension fund", "Union of Soldiers' Mothers", "Fund social protection motherhood and childhood”, in a political party, etc. But, unfortunately, many organizations, unions, associations and movements are independent only formally. In reality, everything is different. However, despite this, we can say that the formation of civil society in the Russian Federation has already begun and is taking its first steps.
Today, society can express its interests and give impulses to power through various channels. Direct communication with government officials at local, regional and federal levels (sending individual and collective letters, personal reception days, etc.). You can also “reach out to the authorities” through political parties. For example, the LDPR faction has created an Internet project where people can send videos they have shot about cases of corruption, violations of rights and the law, etc. After which the party sends a deputy request to the relevant government bodies. Citizens can also send impulses to the authorities through the media, etc.
It is impossible not to note the projects created for the development of civil society. For example, the creation of the “Public Chamber of the Russian Federation”. The official goal of which is to promote the formation, support of activities and development of the field of civil participation in the development and implementation public policy in the Russian Federation. One of the most effective organizations for the formation of civil society, according to the author, has done a lot of positive things in this direction. The Law “On Education”, during the development and adoption of which the wishes of society were taken into account and amendments were made, the Law “On Non-Profit Organizations”, the reform of Housing and Communal Services, etc.
The “Council for Promoting the Development of Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation” was also created. The main goal of this organization is to ensure and protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen, to promote the formation and development of civil society.
Civil society institutions are the link between the state and the individual. They express the interests of members of society, on the basis of which laws are created and adopted. Signals and impulses emanating from society in Russia must correct and control the existing government.
In modern Russia, the formation of civil society has its own specific features:
1. The first feature is “ positive character rallies, protests." In the Russian Federation, protest actions do not reach their extreme forms of manifestation. Russian legislation does not prohibit citizens of their country from holding peaceful rallies, pickets, marches, and protests. Through them, society forms and expresses its opinions and demands on various problems (social, political, economic, cultural), on issues foreign policy. And it is worth emphasizing that the demands of the demonstrators are being met. The authorities hear the people and meet them halfway. For example, we can cite the events of May 2012. The main goal of the protest movement was to express itself to the authorities, about its attitude towards the legitimacy of the government, about its position towards the past elections. It is worth saying that the demonstrators achieved their goal. The protests acted as an impetus for dialogue with the authorities, and this dialogue took place. In Russia, protests and rallies are quite positive in nature, which distinguishes it from other countries. For example, from today's Ukraine, where protest movements and actions have acquired extreme forms of manifestation. The country is on the eve of destruction, the country is in chaos.
2. The second feature of the formation of civil society in modern Russia is its “ethno-regional character.” The gap in the level of development of civil relations in different regions the country is too large (for example, in the capital and in the outback). This circumstance undoubtedly complicates the development of civil society in the political space of modern Russia. It follows from this that at the regional level civil society is much weaker than at the federal level. Of course, its ability to resist political power is much less than in the country as a whole. To eliminate such a deep contradiction, it is necessary to intensively develop local self-government, where not only power relations are concentrated, but also civil ones.
And here we cannot fail to note the activities of the “Public Chamber of the Russian Federation” to reduce the gap between the metropolis and the region. For example, in January 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed a law increasing the number of members of the “Public Chamber” from 126 to 166 people. This, undoubtedly, made it possible to expand the participation of regional public structures in the work of the “Public Chamber”, which, in turn, makes it possible to accelerate the development of a unified civil society in modern Russia.
3. The third feature is the “dependence of independent media.” Vladimir Putin, as a candidate for the presidency, on February 12, 2004, at a meeting with his proxies at Moscow State University, said: “We must continue to work to form a full-fledged, capable civil society in the country. Let me especially note: it is unthinkable without truly free and responsible media. But such freedom and such responsibility must have the necessary legal and economic basis, the creation of which is the duty of the state.” That is, in Russia, independent media are formed not by civil society, but by civil society and the state together. According to the author, this is a positive project. The state, to one degree or another, must control what information is provided to the media.
4. The last feature that the author highlights is the “PR-company of the President,” that is, direct communication with society. In no country is there a “direct line” of communication between the president and the people. Where various representatives of society take part (students, WWII veterans, scientists, cultural figures, large families, pensioners, doctors and many other representatives of society). People can contact the president by telephone, by sending letters, via the Internet or via teleconference. Such events last more than two hours. This is not the case even in the most democratic country, the United States of America. This feature distinguishes the formation of civil society institutions in modern Russia from Western countries.
Summarizing the above, we can draw several conclusions:
1. The formation of civil society institutions in Russia has begun and is moving forward in small steps (as noted above, many unions, associations, movements, associations, etc. have appeared in all spheres of society). Even if many organizations today are only formally independent of the state and power structures, they still exist, which provides grounds for a moderate optimistic assessment of the possibilities and prospects for the development of the rule of law and civil society in Russia;
2. Civil society in Russia is being formed simultaneously with the transition to a democratic and legal state. It should become the “engine” that will move the country towards a democratic state and a market economy;
3. The formation and development of civil society in Russia has its own specifics. She has her own path and her own road in this direction.
There is a lot of talk about civil society today. Who's talking about him? Yes, all and sundry: politicians during their campaigning, representatives of the opposition, assuring that everything in our country is not at all as it should be, various modern figures, and so on.
There is no need to think that civil society is a society whose representatives are citizens, since in fact it is something more. In fact, this is a sphere of self-government founded by citizens, which appeared by itself, that is, without interference from government bodies.
Civil society concept
If you delve into what our rulers are saying on television, we can conclude that they are seriously thinking about creating such a society. Yes, it exists in many countries: why should Russia be an exception?
They talk a lot about it, but the problem has been and remains that not everyone understands what we are talking about in general. Just like many years ago, the country's top officials cannot really explain anything. and why does it need to be built at all? Let's try to figure this out together. It has special distinctive features that need to be considered separately.
Civil society is a society in which the rights of not only privileged individuals are respected, but also of everyone else. It is often said that we are all equal, but is this really true? Look around: the rich take the poor for working cattle, incapable of either thinking or showing any feelings, those people who get power into their hands begin to think only about their own further enrichment, and they don’t care about the problems of everyone else.
Resources are not allocated correctly. Because of this, it turns out that people are unequal. Infringement of rights is still commonplace.
Civil society is also characterized by the fulfillment of private interests. How to understand this? The fact is that we live in a state that we must obey. Yes, submission is mandatory, but the state cannot and should not have complete power over citizens, just as it has the right to interfere in people’s thoughts, impose its ideas on them, or decide something for them.
Civil society also has such a basis as pluralism. It is usually understood as something like multiple truths. The point is that you need to have the right attitude towards the fact that someone’s opinion may not coincide with your own opinion. Members of civil society respect each other's opinions.
Infringing on someone because of their property status, level of education, nationality and the like is unacceptable.
Self-government is also very important. People must be able to implement what they think about. What good are great ideas if no one ever tries to implement them? They shout from all sides that we live in a democratic society. What is democracy? This is people's government, this is when issues relating to the future of the country are not decided individuals, and all people are together.
Let us note that self-government is developed today, but it is not developed as much as we would like. Most people still don't understand how to influence people in power.
Civil society is associated with economic well-being. There should be no gap between the poor and the rich. A person, when retiring, should know that he will have the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved rest, and teachers and doctors, when getting a job, should feel that the salary will be equal to the significance of their work.
Is civil society possible in modern Russia? A difficult question, since the situation in our country is still not the best, and politicians can only think about themselves.
2. The reasons for the emergence of civil society and the conditions for its functioning
3. The structure of civil society and the main directions of its activity
4. Civil society and the state
Civil society in many respects is the most mysterious category of political science. It exists without a single organizational center. The public organizations and associations that make up civil society arise spontaneously. Without any participation of the state, civil society turns into a powerful self-organizing and self-regulating sphere of public life. Moreover, in some countries it exists and is developing successfully, while in others, in particular in the former USSR, it has not existed for many decades. If such a huge power as the USSR, as well as a number of other states, existed without civil society, perhaps there is no particular need for it? After all, there is a state called upon to govern society, to take care of its economic and political stability, the growth of the people’s well-being and much more.
It is no coincidence that the issue of civil society is considered after studying the topic “Political Regimes”. It is known that they are divided into two groups: democratic and non-democratic. Under non-democratic regimes (for example, under totalitarianism), there is no and cannot be a civil society. In democratic countries, there is no need to choose whether to be or not to be a civil society, because it becomes NECESSARY. Civil society is the most important component of a democratic state. The degree of development of civil society reflects the level of development of democracy.
If citizens former USSR either they knew nothing at all about civil society, or had very vague ideas about it, then in modern Russia this is one of the most frequently encountered concepts. He is mentioned in connection with questions public administration, in connection with the Constitution and the Civil Code, when analyzing political regimes, in connection with the transition to a market economy, the development of private property, and most importantly - in connection with the formation in the country in recent years of numerous, previously unknown organizations and associations of entrepreneurs, bankers, tenants, actors, war veterans, pensioners, etc.
What is civil society and why can it develop most fully only under democratic political regimes?
Civil society is a human community that is emerging and developing in democratic states, represented by
I) a network of voluntarily formed non-state structures (unions, organizations, associations, unions, centers, clubs, funds, etc.) in all spheres of society and
2) a set of non-state relations - economic, political, social, spiritual, religious and others.
To clarify this definition, we note the following:
This “network” can be very dense, including in some countries hundreds of thousands of various types of associations of citizens or enterprises (a sign of a highly developed democratic society), and “loose”, numbering a modest number of such organizations (a sign of states taking their first steps in democratic development) ;
The associations that make up civil society reflect the widest range of economic, legal, cultural and many other interests of citizens (enterprises) and are created in order to satisfy these interests;
The specificity of all organizations that form civil society is that they are created not by the state, but by citizens and enterprises themselves, and exist autonomously from the state, but, of course, within the framework of current laws;
The associations that make up a civil society arise, as a rule, spontaneously (due to the emergence of a specific interest and need for its implementation among a group of citizens or enterprises). Then some part of these associations may cease to exist. However, the overwhelming majority of them become long-lived, constantly active, gaining strength and authority over time;
Civil society as a whole is a spokesman for public opinion, which serves as a unique form of manifestation of its influence on political power. Let us give some examples of the emergence of organizations and associations that make up civil society, which reflect the motives for their creation, forms of activity and goals.
It is known that Russia's transition to a market economy gave a powerful start to the process of formation of commercial banks in the country. Until August 1998, there were more than 1,500 of them. The formation of commercial banks is the result of private initiative of citizens or enterprises. In a market environment, they act at their own peril and risk. Market laws are extremely strict. Bankruptcy is not excluded. In addition, there are states that can change the legislation on banks and tighten the conditions for their functioning.
As world experience shows, the market and the state can be both a liability and an asset of a business (banking, in particular). In order for them to be active, you need to fight for it. Group, associated efforts are needed. Russian commercial banks have existed for only a few years, but already in 1991 they formed the Association of Russian Banks, which united Moscow, St. Petersburg, Perm, Novorossiysk, Far Eastern and a number of other regional organizations. The main goals of the Association are to coordinate the actions of Russian banks, implement joint programs, and protect commercial banks. In this regard, the Association is developing a concept for the development of banking, recommendations and draft normative documents regulating the work of banks and their relations with the Central Bank. There is reason to believe that the Association of Russian Banks successfully defends the collective interests of commercial banks through government bodies. In particular, by a special presidential decree, the activities of foreign commercial banks in Russia were limited until 1996. Thus, a very strong competitor of Russian banks was neutralized.
Another example. The variety of forms of ownership, in particular the equalization of rights with all other private property rights, has led to the formation in the country of numerous cooperative, rental enterprises, joint-stock companies, limited liability partnerships and other forms of enterprise. The success of their work depends on themselves. Raw materials for production, labor, production itself, storage and sales finished products- it's all their own business. However, at the same time, these enterprises still have a number of important relations with the state. This applies to taxes, customs duties, state insurance, compliance with environmental legislation, storage rules, transportation of products and much more.
World experience shows that state tax policy can be influenced towards liberalization. But again, success is more realistic if negotiations with government agencies are conducted by a united representative body that arose on the initiative of entrepreneurs, as a civil society organization. Numerous unions of entrepreneurs exist in all countries of the world. It can even be stated that in the structure of civil society they occupy the largest specific gravity. Russia, transitioning to a market economy, was no exception. Over the course of several years, hundreds of various types of associations have arisen here, including in the business sphere. These include the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and the Congress of Russian Business Circles. Union of Entrepreneurs and Tenants, Association joint ventures, Union of United Cooperatives, Association of Enterprise Managers, Union of Joint-Stock Companies, Association of Peasant (Farm) Farms and Agricultural Cooperatives, Union of Young Entrepreneurs of Russia, Union of Small Enterprises of Russia.
Let's say a little more about the Union of Small Enterprises of Russia. It arose in 1990. The main goal is to contribute in every possible way to the elimination of monopolism in the Russian economy. This organization is developing proposals to improve state legislation regarding the formation and functioning of small enterprises. In addition, the Union of Small Enterprises of Russia is engaged in the development of business cooperation among small enterprises. It assists its members in mastering new technology and technology, in introducing management innovations, the Union holds conferences and business meetings, assists small businesses in the construction of industrial buildings.
The examples given concern the economic sphere. However, the range of public interests in connection with which civil society organizations arise goes far beyond its framework. It covers political, cultural, legal, economic, scientific and many other interests. These interests may lie on other planes. For example, believing that the state is not actively pursuing a policy of reorganization Russian army, eliminating “hazing” and other things that discredit the honor and dignity of soldiers, the so-called hazing, the mothers of soldiers serving, organized the Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers, which sets specific goals to protect the rights of conscripts and conducts an active dialogue with the government. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War, Afghan soldiers, and disabled people have their own organizations.
In the future, as we consider issues related to civil society, other examples of civil society organizations will be given. However, it follows from what has been said that civil society is the environment in which modern man, legally satisfies his needs, develops his individuality, comes to realize the value of group action and social solidarity.(Kumar K. Civil Society // Civil Society M, 1994. P. 21).
In conclusion of this paragraph, we note that many sciences, jurisprudence, economic theory, history, philosophy, sociology, etc., show interest in civil society.
Jurisprudence studies civil society as a subject of civil law and as a subject of legal regulation.
Economic theory interested economic reasons the emergence of civil society organizations, the role of the financial sector in their functioning.
Story describes specific national forms of civil society, features of citizen participation in public life.
Philosophy and sociology study civil society as a social system, as a form public organization and communication.
However particularly important role in the study of civil society belongs to political scientists." It is political science that studies the nature and forms of interaction between civil society and political and public institutions- the state as a whole, federal and local authorities. Based on the achievements of other sciences, political science explores the causes and conditions for the emergence of civil society, its structure, directions of evolution. In other words, political science recreates complete picture civil society.
