What does "social state" mean? The essence of the social state

Today, the question of what "social state" means is very relevant. We live at a time when the realization of its principles becomes not only possible, but also necessary. So what is a social state? Let's figure it out.

The very notion of "social state" is a principle (characteristic), which refers to the constitutional legal status. He assumes that the constitution guarantees social and economic rights and freedoms of the individual, as well as the corresponding duties that it takes on itself. A social state is a state that must serve society, strive to ensure that social differences are minimized or completely eliminated.

Is Russia a social state?

The Constitution of the Russian Federation gives a positive answer to this question. It says that our country is a social state. And the concept of "social state" means that the country's policy is aimed at creating conditions in which the free development of man and the dignified life of everyone would be provided. Consequently, the Russian Federation aspires to this.

The duties of the state, fixed in the Constitution of the Russian Federation

In order to better understand the notion of a "social state" and its essence, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with its duties, fixed in the Russian Federation constitutionally. Among them are the following:

- protect the health and work of people;

- establish a minimum wage that is guaranteed;

- provide state support to the family, childhood, paternity, motherhood, elderly citizens and disabled people;

- develop the existing system of social services;

- for citizens to establish benefits, state pensions and other guarantees of social protection.

The essence and purpose of a state of a social type

The union of all nationalities, nations, social groups, united by a special concept of "civil society", is the essence of a state of a social type. A social state is a state whose goal is to ensure the protection and interests of society as a whole. It is built on the recognition of legitimate interests, freedoms and human rights, which are regarded as the highest value.

A social state is a political organization that is an institution aimed at the organization of society as a whole, worthy of everyone's life, protection of freedoms, rights and interests of all peoples and citizens. It is a tool for resolving conflicts and disputes both on the territory of the country and outside it. This is what the concept of "social state" means.

It is closely connected with the institution of law. Only the rule of law, that is, in which the mechanisms of the rule of law are sufficiently developed, can become social. Since the mid-90's. In a situation where, on the one hand, liberal ideas spread, and on the other hand, the social role of the state and the demands put forth by society in relation to social policy, increased, new ideas began to be formed about the type of state of interest to us. A social state is a state that is viewed today as a mechanism that removes contradictions between social goals and market laws. This is a very important characteristic of it.

Rejection of the paternalistic role

The social state, unlike the so-called "welfare state", aspires today to abandon the paternalistic role. It is aimed at eliminating dependency. A social state is a state for which the desire to create favorable conditions for society through a market economy that is socially-oriented is characteristic.

Periodization of development

Started in the mid-90's. In our country, the period can be called the stage of a liberal social state. The following types of the latter are distinguished:

- Socialistic (from the 70s of the 19th century to the 30s of the 20th century);

- a legal social state (from the 30s to the late 40s of the 20th century);

- the state of social services (late 40s - 60s of the last century);

- the state of general prosperity (late 50's - mid-80's);

- a stage of crisis and destruction of the welfare state (80's - mid-90's);

- a liberal social state (from the mid-1990s to the present).

Signs of a Social State

Formed for more than 100 years, the definition of the concept of interest contains, for all its seeming heterogeneity, a limited set of permanent features. The first of these is the availability of social support for the state to all members of society. The second is the legal nature of the state's implementation of social policy, its right to regulate and control social processes. At the same time, the legal function is not only to regulate social processes, but also to empower citizens with social rights. The state is socially responsible. The third constant sign is the availability of budgetary social payments. The fourth is the existence of a state system for providing employment, social security and social protection. The fifth - the recognition of their responsibility for the level of welfare of citizens. A social state is a state in which all these signs are present.

Social politics

Social policy is one of the main tools that serve to realize a social state. The relationship of the latter with it manifests itself primarily in how deeply and fully it pursues social policy, and also to what extent it expresses the interests and needs of its citizens. Thus, a social state is when the principles of social policy operate.

Its direction is to achieve results and goals related to improving the social and material well-being of citizens, improving the quality of people's lives and achieving social and political stability in the state, preventing the emergence of hotbeds of social tension in it.

Functions

So, we answered the question: "What does the concept of" social state "mean?". Let us now consider the functions that it possesses. Speaking of them, the following circumstances should be taken into account:

- the social state has all the functions that are traditional for any state;

- their content is superimposed on its general social significance, therefore postulates that are traditional are refracted through the prism of the goals and objectives of the social state;

- it is possible to distinguish within the framework of the social function certain specific directions in which the activity of the social state proceeds.

In particular, the latter include:

- protection of health and work of people;

- support for the categories of the population that are socially unprotected;

- support for paternity, motherhood, family and childhood;

- smoothing through the redistribution of income of social inequality;

- encouraging charity, etc.

The "human" dimension

Not only the political and economic, but also the moral process is the emergence of a social state. It requires a "human" dimension. The signs of such a state are:

- democratic organization of the system of power;

- a high moral level of the population, and officials - first of all;

- a strong economic potential, which allows implementing various measures aimed at the redistribution of income, while not significantly infringing on the position of the owners;

- the social orientation of the policy of such a state, manifested in the development of various social programs, as well as the priority of their implementation, etc.

Obstacles in the way of the welfare state in Russia

1. Our country has not yet gained sufficient support in law, and in Russia a social state can not rely on its foundation. At us its creation is not, as in the West, a new stage which passes the legal state in its development.

2. In Russia, the "middle layer" of the owners is still not created. From the party-state property, spontaneously privatized, practically nothing got to the majority of the population of our country.

3. In Russia, there is no economic potential necessary to implement measures aimed at the redistribution of income, while not significantly impairing the autonomy and freedom of owners.

4. In our country, monopolies in many important types of marketing and production have not yet been liquidated. This leads to the fact that there is no real competition.

5. There is also no mature, developed civil society.

6. The level of morality in Russian society is reduced, the spiritual guidelines of equality and justice are practically lost. With the help of "professional" politicians and ideologists, as well as the media, the pernicious notion that economics and politics are incompatible with morality is asserted in the public mind.

7. Political parties existing in Russia have no clear social programs.

8. In the process of liberation from the intervention of the state of Russian society, the social role of statehood is reduced by inertia. That is, society fell into another extreme, and the citizen remained with the elements of the market one on one.

9. In a society, real, clearly designated goals are absent, there are no life-support models that are scientifically verified.

Despite all the above difficulties, the only way for the development of a free society in our country is precisely the development of social statehood. This applies not only to Russia, but to all other countries.

So, you learned about what the concept "social state" means. This topic is touched upon in the study of such disciplines as political science and jurisprudence. When passing the Unified State Examination on social studies it is required to have an idea of what a social state is. Ideally, every citizen should know this concept.