Liberal democracy is a form of political organization that has two fundamental qualities. The government is "liberal" in terms of the core values ​​that underlie a given political system, and "democratic" in terms of shaping its political structure.

The core values ​​associated with the liberal democratic political system stem from traditional liberal notions of limiting power and are designed to ensure a wide range of civil and human rights. The above can be guaranteed by such instruments as the constitution, the bill of rights, the principle of separation of powers, the system of checks and balances, and most importantly, the principle of the rule of law.

The functioning of a democratic political system reflects the will of the people (according to at least his majority). Public consent within a liberal-democratic political system is ensured through representation: liberal democracy (sometimes also defined as representative) involves the adoption of political decisions by a small group of people on behalf of all citizens of the country.

Those who assume such duties and responsibilities act with the consent of the citizens and govern in their name. Meanwhile, the right to make decisions is conditional on the presence of public support, and it can be denied in the absence of approval of the actions of the government by the population to which the government is accountable. In this case, citizens deprive their chosen ones of the right to exercise power and transfer them into the hands of other persons.

Thus, elections, during which the will of the population is manifested in relation to the actions and personal composition of state government bodies, is a fundamental function of liberal democracy. The electoral system gives the right to vote to all adult citizens of the country, regular elections and open rivalry of those who claim to power are ensured. political parties.

The liberal democratic political system is primarily associated with first world countries with a capitalist economic system.

See also Rule of Law, Elections, Civil Rights, Democracy, Legitimacy, Liberalism, Marxism-Leninism, Accountability, Political Tolerance, Human Rights, "Representation", "Separation of Powers".

Liberal democracy is a model of the socio-political organization of a rule of law state, the basis of which is such a power that expresses the will of the majority, but at the same time protects the freedom and rights of a separate minority of citizens.

This type of power aims to provide each individual citizen of his country with the right to private property, freedom of speech, compliance with legal processes, protection of personal space, life, freedom of religion. All these rights are spelled out in such a legislative document as the Constitution, or other form of legal formation adopted by the decision Supreme Court endowed with such powers that can ensure the exercise of the rights of citizens.

Concept of democracy

The modern name of this political direction comes from the Greek words demos- "society" and Kratos- "rule", "power", which formed the word democratia meaning "power of the people".

Principles of a democratic system

Principles of liberal democracy:

1. The main principle is to ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens.
2. The board is ensured by the adoption of the will of the people, ascertained in the course of voting. The party with the most votes wins.
3. All rights expressed by the minority are respected and guaranteed.
4. Organization of competitiveness various directions management, because democracy is not a means of ruling, but a means of limiting the ruling parties with other power organizations.
5. Voting is mandatory, but you can abstain.
6. Civil society restrains the activity of state power through the self-organization of citizens.

Signs of a democratic state structure

There are such signs of democracy in the state:

1. Fair and free elections are an important political tool for electing new representatives of power, or maintaining the current one.
2. Citizens take an active part both in the political life of the state and in the public life.
3. Security legal protection to every citizen.
4. The supreme power extends to all in equal parts.

All this is at the same time the principles of liberal democracy.

Formation of liberal democracy

When did this trend start to form? The history of liberal democracy is long years formation and long history. This type of government is the fundamental principle of the development of the Western civilized world, especially the Roman and Greek heritage, on the one hand, as well as the Judeo-Christian heritage, on the other.

In Europe, the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries began the development of this type of power. Previously, most of the already formed states adhered to the monarchy, because it was believed that humanity is prone to evil, violence, destruction, so it needs a strong leader who can keep the people in a tight grip. People were assured that the government was elected by God, and those who were against the head were equated with blasphemers.

Thus, a new branch of thought began to emerge, which assumed that human relationships are built on faith, truth, freedom, equality, the basis of which is liberalization. The new direction was based on the principles of equality, and the election supreme power God or belonging to noble blood does not have any privilege. The ruling power must be in the service of the people, but not vice versa, and the law is absolutely equal for everyone. The liberalist direction has entered the masses in Europe, but the formation of liberal democracy has not yet been completed.

Theory of liberal democracy

The division of democracy into types depends on how the population takes part in the organization of the state, as well as on who and how governs the country. The theory of democracy divides it into types:

1. Direct Democracy. It implies the direct participation of citizens in the social system of the state: raising the issue, discussion, decision-making. This ancient species was the key in ancient times. Direct democracy is inherent in small communities, towns, settlements. But only when these same issues do not require the participation of specialists in a particular field. Today, this view can be observed against the backdrop of the structure of local government. Its prevalence is directly dependent on the decentralization of issues raised, decisions taken, from transferring the right to receive them to small teams.
2. Plebiscitary Democracy. It, like the direct one, implies the right to the will of people, but it is different from the first one. The people have the right only to accept or reject any decision, which, as a rule, is put forward by the head of power. That is, the power of people is limited, the population cannot adopt appropriate laws.
3. representative democracy. Such democracy is carried out through the adoption by the people of the head of the authority, its representatives, who undertake to consider and accept the interests of citizens. But the people have nothing to do with solving more important problems that require the participation of a qualified specialist, especially when the participation of the population in the life of the camp is difficult due to the large area of ​​\u200b\u200bhabitat.
4. liberal democracy. Power is the people who express their needs through a qualified representative of the dominant power, who is elected to fulfill his powers for a certain period. He enjoys the support of the majority of the people, and the people trust him, using the constitutional provisions.

These are the main types of democracy.

Countries with liberal democracies

The countries of the European Union, the USA, Japan, Canada, South Africa, Australia, India, New Zealand are countries with a liberal democratic system. This opinion is shared by most experts. However, some countries in Africa and the former Soviet Union consider themselves democracies, although the facts have long been revealed that the ruling structures have a direct influence on the outcome of the elections.

Resolving disagreements between government and people

The authorities are not able to support every citizen, so it is quite expected that disagreements arise between them. To resolve such disputes, such a thing as the judiciary arose. In fact, it is authorized to resolve any conflicts that may arise both between citizens and the government, and within the population as a whole.

The main difference between liberal democracy and classical

Classical liberal democracy is based on Anglo-Saxon practices. However, they were not the founders. Huge contribution other countries of Europe brought to the process of formation of this model of government.

Principles of classical liberal democracy:

1. The independence of the people. All power in the state belongs to the people: constituent and constitutional. People choose a performer and remove him.
2. Most resolve issues. To implement this provision, a special process is required, which is regulated by the electoral law.
3. All citizens definitely have equal voting rights.
   The election of the presiding chairman is the duty of the population, as well as its overthrow, control and supervision of public activities.
4. Separation of power.

Principles of modern liberal democracy:

1. The main value is the freedoms and rights of the population.
2. Democracy is rule by the head of society from the people and for the people. Representative democracy is modern look liberal democracy, the essence of which is built on the competitiveness of political forces and the forces of voters.
3. Problems and wishes are fulfilled by the vote of the majority, while not violating, supporting the rights of the minority.
4. Democracy is a way of limiting government and other power structures. Creation of the concept of power sharing by organizing the work of competitive parties.
5. Reaching agreements through decision making. Citizens cannot vote against - they can vote for or abstain.
6. The development of self-government contributes to the development of democratic liberal principles.

Advantages of liberal democracy

The advantages of a liberal democracy are:

1. Liberal democracy is built on the Constitution and universal equality before the law. Therefore, the highest level of law and order in society is achieved through democratic views.
2. Accountability of authorities state power fully provided to the people. If the population is not satisfied political administration, then the opposing party has a good chance of winning the next election. Avoiding past mistakes new government- a great way to stay on top. Thus, a low level of corruption is ensured.
3. Important political issues are resolved by a qualified specialist, which saves the people from unnecessary problems.
4. The absence of a dictatorship is also an advantage.
5. People are provided with the protection of private property, racial, religious affiliation, protection of the poor. At the same time, the level of terrorism is quite low in countries with such a political system.

Non-intervention of the government in the activities of entrepreneurs, low inflation rate, stable political and economic situation are the result of a democratic liberal system.

Flaws

Representatives of direct democracy are sure that in a representative democracy the power of the majority of the population is exercised very rarely - only in elections, referendums. The real power is in the hands of a separate group of representatives of the board. This may mean that liberal democracy belongs to the oligarchy, while the development technological processes, the growth of education of citizens and their involvement in the public life of the state provide conditions for the transfer of ruling powers directly into the hands of the people.

Marxists and anarchists believe that the real power is in the hands of those who have control over financial processes. Only those who have most of the finances are able to be at the top of the socio-political system, through the media introducing their importance and qualifications to the masses. They believe that money is everything, and therefore it becomes easier to manipulate the population, the level of corruption is growing, and inequality is becoming institutionalized.

The realization of long-term prospects in society is very difficult, and therefore short term prospects are both an advantage and a more effective means.

To maintain the weight of the vote, some voters support certain social groups engaged in advocacy. They receive state benefits and win solutions that are in their best interest but not in the best interests of the citizens as a whole.

Critics believe that elected officials often change laws unnecessarily. This contributes to the difficulty of observance of laws by citizens, creates conditions for abuse of position by law enforcement agencies and public service agencies. Problems in the legislation also entail the inhibition and massiveness of the bureaucratic system.

Liberal Democracy in Russia

Establishing this form state structure passed with great difficulty. Then, when liberal democracy already dominated Europe and America, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the remnants of the feudal system in the form of an absolute monarchy remained in Russia. This contributed to the start of the revolutionary movement, which seized power during the Revolution of 1917. For the next 70 years, a communist system was established in the country. Civil society was inhibited, despite the development of economic activity, the independence of the powers, because of this, the freedoms operating in the territories of other countries for a long time were not implemented.

Liberal-democratic changes in Russia took place only in the 90s, when a political regime was established that carried out global changes: it was allowed to privatize housing that previously belonged to the state, a multi-party system was established in the government, etc. At the same time, the creation of numerous cells of owners, which could become the basis of liberal democracy in Russia, was not organized, but, on the contrary, contributed to the creation of a narrow circle of the rich, who were able to establish control over the main wealth of the state.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the country's leadership reduced the role of the oligarchs in the economy and politics of the country by returning part of their property to the state, especially in the industrial direction. Thus, the further path of development of society today remains open.

General characteristics of liberal democracy

In political science, liberal democracy is one of the most common models of the democratic structure of the state. This is largely due to the correspondence of the direction under consideration to classical democratic ideals. Turning to the consideration of the essential features and characteristics of liberal democracy, it seems necessary to give one of the definitions of the corresponding category:

Definition 1

Liberal democracy is a model of state organization built on the basis of representative democracy, in which the will of the social majority and the powers of state authorities are limited in such a way as to ensure the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of each member of society.

At the same time, one of the key features of liberal democracy is that, under its conditions, the main goal of the state is proclaimed equal provision of every citizen with inalienable rights and freedoms, among which can be named:

• Private property;
• Privacy, freedom of movement;
• Freedom of thought and speech, religion, freedom of assembly, etc.

At the same time, in connection with giving the corresponding benefits the status of absolute values ​​in a liberal democracy, their legal consolidation is ensured at the highest legislative level, primarily in the Constitution of the state, and is continued in the law enforcement activities of public authorities.

In addition, the literature notes that liberal democracy is characterized by the model of the so-called "open society", that is, a society in which a wide variety of socio-political views (political pluralism and pluralism of opinions) coexist on a competitive basis.

In particular, the corresponding feature may be reflected in the fact that in a liberal democracy, the political force in power does not necessarily share and support all the values ​​and ideals of classical liberalism, gravitating, for example, towards democratic socialism. However, despite the place of the views of the respective party or public association in the political spectrum, it must necessarily share the ideas of the rule of law in a liberal democratic state.

In this regard, it seems reasonable to point out that, in relation to the characterization of the political regime, “liberalism” is understood not in the sense of the economic component of the corresponding term, but in the sense of the comprehensive protection of each member of society from arbitrariness on the part of state authorities and their officials.

The history of the formation and development of the ideas of liberal democracy

Over a long period of historical development, until the middle of the 19th century, the ideas of democracy and liberalism were in a certain contradiction, since classical liberalism assumed the individual owner as the basis of the state, for whom ensuring his economic rights is much more important than, for example, the need to survive, or various kinds, social goods.

At the same time, as you know, the Democrats argued the need to participate in the formation of power and the adoption of socially significant decisions of the majority of the population, including representatives of the poor class, since, according to the Democrats, the deprivation of such electoral and political rights in its content is one of the forms of enslavement of citizens. Liberals, in turn, defended the point of view that the power of the poor is a real threat to private property and guarantees of individual freedom.

The turning point in the relevant discussion, which predetermined the possibility of the emergence of liberal democracy as a model of the state system, was the period of the middle of the 19th century, when a number of researchers, led by the French politician Alexis de Tocqueville, consistently substantiated the point of view that there is a real possibility of the existence of society, in which personal freedom and private property not only coexist with democratic ideals, but also are in harmonious unity with each other, complementing each other.

Remark 1

The key idea and condition for the viability of liberal democracy, according to A. de Tocqueville, is the equality of opportunities for citizens in the state, including in the economic and political spheres.

Conditions for the formation and establishment of liberal democracy in the state

Despite the sufficient prevalence of liberal-democratic ideas in political science and the programs of political parties, the question of what is the list of conditions necessary and sufficient for the emergence, formation and final approval of the liberal-democratic structure of the state is still quite acute.

So, in accordance with one of the points of view, the minimum scope of the relevant conditions is represented by:

• Developed justice system in the country;
• Legislative proclamation and protection of private property;
• The presence of a broad middle class as the basis of any democracy;
• A strong civil society, consisting of politically active members of society.

However, not all scientists, sharing the need to provide appropriate conditions, agree with the opinion that they are sufficient to establish liberal democracy, giving examples of situations in which, despite their existence, “defective” democracies are formed.

In this regard, it should be emphasized that another condition for liberal democracy should be recognized as the existence of a long historical process of the formation of democratic traditions, customs and institutions, as well as the involvement of legal procedures and the general population to resolve conflicts.

The classical liberal model of democracy is based on the Anglo-Saxon tradition. However, it should be noted that other European countries also made a significant contribution to the development of this model. Democratic traditions were laid in the small city-states of Northern Italy during the Renaissance, and in the Dutch cities, etc. In England since about the 13th century. treaty, deliberative and representative institutions (Magna Carta, Parliament, etc.) begin to develop. The Glorious (Bloodless) Revolution of 1688 laid the foundations of a constitutional monarchy, defining the framework of state government. The principles of classical democracy were finally formed in the 17th century.

Principles of classical liberal (representative) democracy:

1) Sovereignty of the people. All power comes from the people. He has the founding, constitutional power in the state. The people elect their representatives and depose them.

2) Solving issues on the majority. To implement this principle of position, a special procedure is required, regulated by the electoral law (this is the difference from ancient democracy).

3) Equality of citizens before the law. Mandatory equality of electoral rights of citizens.

4) Election and periodic turnover of all state bodies. Officials receive certain powers, and citizens - ways to control their activities.

5) Separation of powers.

The modern liberal model of democracy has enriched the content of some principles and expanded their list.

Principles of modern liberal democracy:

1) The rights and freedoms of citizens are the main value of democracy.

2) Democracy is not the rule of the people. This is government in the name of the people and for the people. Modern democracy is a representative democracy, the meaning of which lies in the competition between political forces for votes.

3) Solving all issues by the majority, but respecting and guaranteeing the rights of the minority.

4) Separation of powers. Creation of a mechanism of checks and balances, with the help of which various branches of government could mutually limit each other. Democracy is not a way of governing, but a way of limiting government and other power structures.

5) Adoption of the principle of consensus in the decision-making process. You can refrain, but not resist.

6) Restriction (balancing) of the activities of the state by civil society. Civil society is understood as a sphere of spontaneous self-organization of people. Democracy develops self-government of citizens.

pluralistic democracy

Politics, according to supporters of the pluralistic concept of democracy, is a conflict of interest groups in the field of political struggle. It is impossible to make an absolutely fair decision for all. Decisions are made on the basis of compromise.

Supporters of the pluralist concept criticize representatives of liberal democracy in the following areas:

Excessive attention to the individual as a subject of politics. Liberals do not see behind the personality the main subject of politics - the interest group.

Limited understanding of individual freedom. In liberalism, freedom is understood as a negative phenomenon, i.e. freedom from state interference in the affairs of the individual, but this approach reinforces social conflicts and thereby makes the rights of the individual formal.

Underestimation of the role of the state. Liberals limit state intervention in public life. But the needs of the social and economic development of society objectively lead to the expansion of the role of the state. Consequently, the pluralists argue, to insist on non-intervention of the state in social processes means to distort reality.

Signs of a pluralistic concept of democracy:

1) Interest groups are the main subject of policy. But none of them should dominate the political process, because does not represent the opinion of the whole society.

2) The essence of democracy lies in the rivalry of group interests. Citizens do not have to express their opinions; interest groups do it much better for them.

3) Democracy is not the power of the people, but power with the consent of the people. The necessary representation can be achieved without the active participation of citizens. The responsibility of politicians will be caused by the need for support from the electorate, so they will strive to satisfy the demands of interest groups.

4) Recognition and guarantee of minority rights. The basis of consent in society is the principle of the majority, but its dictatorship is unacceptable.

5) Recognition of the special role of political culture as a condition for civilized rivalry between political forces.

6) Transferring the system of checks and balances from public sphere into the social sphere of society.

Supporters of other models of democratic organization of society criticize pluralists for the following shortcomings:

Exaggeration of the role of group differentiation of society. Many citizens are not represented in any groups at all.

Ignoring the inequality of opportunities for different groups to influence state power and politics. Groups expressing the socio-economic interests of the upper classes are better organized, more active, have a lot of money and enjoy more political influence. In addition, individual groups can become so powerful that their activities paralyze the political system, because. only their interests will be satisfied, and the demands of citizens will be ignored.

The interpretation of the state as a neutral element. The state cannot be neutral in the competitive struggle of interest groups, since there are influential groups that can put pressure on it.