Transitional period of the state: problems, politics, society

Emile Durkheim defined the concept of "anarchy" as a complete lack of power within a certain state. Over time, some researchers began to identify anarchy with the state of the transition period. In this, of course, there is some truth, but this is not all that society faces in this period.

The problem of definition

Under the state it is customary to mean a public organization that is governed by special mechanisms of government, located on a certain territory. However, there is still no single true definition that would be accepted in the scientific environment and international law. Since the United Nations has no right to propose theses about what the state is, the only documented declaration is that used in the Montevideo Convention (1933).

What is the state?

As for the modern definitions of the term "state", you can list the following:

• The state is a specific political organization endowed with power, which expresses the interests of the people (VV Lazarev).
• The state can be understood as a political organization that protects and controls economic and social structures (SI Ozhegov).

But, whatever the definition, the state has stable characteristics, which often change during the transition period.

State characteristics

Often, one can face confusion in terms of "country" and "state", which are often used as synonyms. And yet they have a big difference: the word "country" is used when it comes to the cultural or geographical characteristics of a particular state, while the "state" itself defines a complex political structure with mandatory characteristics:

• Presence of documents, which declared the primary goals and tasks of the state (laws, constitution, doctrine, etc.).
• There are public management systems. These include government agencies and social institutions.
• The state has its own property (ie, resources).
• It has its own territory, where a certain number of people live.
• Each state has its own capital and subordinate organizations (law enforcement agencies, armed forces, local administrative authorities).
• The presence of state symbols and language is mandatory.
• Sovereignty (that is, the state must be recognized by others to act in the international arena.)

On approach to the transition period

The state is considered an integral and stable system, the main task of which is to protect the interests of citizens. This procedure is carried out by the adoption of laws and sanctions, according to which the subjects act. It should be noted that all the adopted norms support the rule of law, traditions and integrity of society, and the population is involved in public activities in accordance with international agreements. Simply put, a political organization must ensure the harmonious and full-fledged existence of every member of society.

However, this is not always enough, there are times when the current state apparatus is not able to meet all the needs of citizens. Then a new political force begins to come to power, which breaks down the old social structure and creates new governance mechanisms and ways for the development of the state. This is the transitional period of the state.

Definition

Under the transition period, state-legal systems are meant to be in a state of transformation, changing the state system and law. For example, there are many cases in history where the slave-owning form of power changed to a feudal one. In place of feudal power came capitalism, and in its place - socialism.

This process has always been complex and contradictory. It was not only power that changed, but the peculiarities and rights of classes. A vivid example of a state of transition can be called the USSR in 1991. Literally in a matter of days, 15 union republics, which received full independence, were to form their own state apparatus, which would fully meet the needs of the population and meet international standards.

Peculiarities of the state of transition type

During the transition period, there is a complex deconstruction of all state elements. Main stages:

1. It arises because of social upheavals (coups d'état, revolutions, wars, failed reforms).
2. It presupposes several scenarios for the development of the state, giving the ruling elite themselves the choice over which way the development will proceed according to historical changes, cultural, ethnic, religious and economic characteristics.
3. External relations are subjected to sharp changes, the legal system and the economic basis of the state are weakened. Accordingly, the standard of living also becomes lower.
4. Social and political bases are weakening. In the society, the level of tension and uncertainty is increasing, as a result, one can observe the state of partial anarchy.
5. In the policy of the transition period, the executive-administrative authority dominates.

How long does the change in the political apparatus last?

In the state of the transition period, all system-forming standards are superseded, and, as practice shows, this process takes time. You can not come to an instant change in the system. The problem is not only the complexity of the transformation of government, but also in the awareness and acceptance of changes by citizens.

If people eventually get used to any conditions, the formation of new norms in social institutions takes a long time. It may happen that new institutions do not get accustomed to the updated system, but the old ones will fit perfectly into it. During this period, the legal system for regulating the state apparatus receives a special burden, which should provide new political needs for the changes that are being implemented. And if the state does not come to a new style of government in a relatively short period of time, it can only mean that the changes are provoked by subjective (artificial) factors.

If we talk about the terms of the transition period, in general, it ends in 5 years. During this time, a new state apparatus has time to form and enter into operation. Take, for example, the Crimea. He joined Russia in 2014, and leading political scientists of the country assure that the transition period will end in 2019.

Problems

The main problems of the transition period in the state include an unstable economic situation and difficulties with understanding of new laws, which significantly slows down the process of transformation. The main problems can be defined as follows:

1. Insuperability of a complex transformation. Simply put, it is difficult for individuals and legal entities to adapt to the new market conditions.
2. Uncertainty and underdevelopment of market infrastructure.
3. The problem of price liberalization.
4. Difficulties with the stabilization of macroeconomics.
5. The problem of mentality.
6. The problems of defending new positions in the international arena.

The state of society

For all this, a transitional society is in the natural risk zone. At this stage, new reforms are actively introduced, but for a simple person they mean little, no matter what positive changes are born. In the country productivity, turnover, and, accordingly, the standard of living is rapidly declining, and then the cultural heritage is included in the sphere of optional elements.

It has been repeatedly noted in scientific treatises that even in a state of relative calm the state balances on the verge of two dangers: either the new reforms will completely suppress the creative and independent beginning of citizens, or people will get more freedom and, using it, completely disorganize the political apparatus. During the transition period, these dangers increase significantly, as centralization of the main forces of the state structure, nationalism, extremism intensifies, disintegration processes begin to develop. Such problems are typical for all countries, in particular, they are inherent in the transitional period in Russia.

Therefore, the transitional state faces a complex set of tasks that must cover all spheres of its life, ensuring not only the introduction of new reforms, but also the protection of the interests of citizens. To maintain stability, maintain external independence, guarantee the self-sufficiency and independence of its citizens - these are the main points on which the state of the transition period is centered. And if at least some part is missed, then it is likely that there will be anarchy in the country, about which Durkheim spoke.