Social state: the concept and characteristics, functions

Consider the social state: concept and its signs. Also from this article you will find out which models of the social state exist. Say a few words about the features of its development. What is a social state, the concept and signs of which we are interested in? This is a principle (characteristic) that refers to the constitutional and legal status of a particular state.

Principle of the social state

This principle presupposes a constitutionalguaranteeing social and economic rights and freedoms of the citizen and the duty of the state, which should serve the society. It seeks to minimize and, as far as possible, completely eliminate unjustified social differences.

Functions that a social state must perform

The concept and signs of a social state are closely related to its functions. Considering the latter, you need to keep in mind the following:

a) it has traditional functions, conditioned by its nature as states;

b) the content of all these functions imposesthe imprint of its social significance, that is, traditional postulates in this case are refracted through the prism of the goals and objectives of the social state, and one can talk about the existence of a common social policy in such a state.

It can be identified within the framework of the general socialpurpose specific activities, that is, specific functions that have a social state, the concept and characteristics of which we describe. Such functions include, in particular:

1) support for categories of the population that are socially unprotected;

2) protection of health and work of people;

3) support of motherhood, paternity, family and childhood.

Also, the state should take care of preservingof the world. What other functions are included in his concept? Signs, social purpose of the state suggest that the inequality should be smoothed out by redistributing income between different layers of society. This is realized through taxation, special social programs, the state budget.

A fairly voluminous notion is the socialstate. The concept and features, functions - you can talk about all this for a very long time. Among the latter one should also note the encouragement of the state of charitable activity (including by providing tax incentives to business entities that implement it). We need to support and finance cultural programs and fundamental scientific research. Characterizing the social state (concept and signs) briefly, it must be said that it must provide employment for the population, fight unemployment, and pay benefits. Its functions also include finding a balance between the market economy and the impact on its development of the state. The purpose of such an impact is to ensure a dignified life for the citizens of the country. To participate in the implementation of interstate social, cultural and environmental programs, as well as to solve common human problems, a social state must necessarily also take place. The concept and attributes, functions, types - all this determines its basic features.

The main features of the social state

From what has been said above, we can conclude thata social state always seeks to ensure the social security of citizens, decent conditions for their existence, the opportunity to participate in the management of production. Ideally, it should be aimed at creating for all approximately equal life chances. The activities of such a state are aimed primarily at the common good, for the establishment of social justice in society. It smooths the inequality (property or otherwise), helps the destitute and the weak, cares about giving work or other source of existence to citizens, ensures the preservation of peace, the formation of a safe living environment for man.

Conditions for the existence of a social state

The establishment of such a state is not onlypolitical and economic process, but also moral, which requires a "human" dimension. We can conclude with the above said that the characteristic features and conditions for the existence of a social state are:

1) democratically organized power;

2) a high level of morality among officials and all citizens;

3) large economic potential, which allows you to redistribute income, without prejudice the position of the owners;

4) the structure of the economy, oriented socially, which manifests itself in the presence of different forms of ownership, as well as a significant share of state property in the necessary areas of the economy;

5) development of the state in the legal sphere;

6) the existence of a civil society for which the state is an instrument for pursuing socially oriented policies;

7) the social orientation of the policy, manifested in the development of various social programs, as well as the priority of their implementation;

8) the existence of the goals of establishing a common good, social justice;

9) the existence of social legislation;

10) fixing the formula "social state" in the country's constitution.

Activities of the social state

We can say that our principles and goalsthe social state exercises in the form of legal statehood. It goes through the humanization of society, that is, it seeks to expand the rights of the individual, to fill the legal norms with a more just content. The state is also called to ensure the welfare of the individual: the material conditions of a dignified existence and freedom for every person, social security. It should deal directly with the distribution of the public good, but not undermine the foundations of a market economy, such as competition, private property, individual responsibility, enterprise, etc., should not contribute to mass social dependency.

The liberal model

It is based on the liberal principle, whichIt provides for the personal responsibility of all members of society for the fate of their family and their own. In this model, the role of the state is insignificant. First of all, social programs are financed through private insurance and personal savings. The task of the state is to stimulate the growth of incomes of citizens. Using this model by social states are, for example, the USA, Canada and Australia.

Corporate model

Another model is corporate. It presupposes the existence of a mechanism for the responsibility of organizations (corporations) and enterprises for the fate and financial situation of their employees. The Corporation provides the employee with social guarantees, including pensions, as well as partial payment for educational, medical and other services. The social states built on this principle are France, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Austria, and others.

Conservative model

The main task in it is to ensureequal starting conditions, as well as opportunities for development for all citizens. The idea of ​​partnership between the private sector, the state, charitable and public organizations is the foundation of conservative politics. The principle of mixed economy - dominant in the economic sphere, creates a social market economy. Oriented on this model, social states are Japan and the United Kingdom.

The models described above are ideal types, unlikelyWhether taking place somewhere in the pure state. In every concrete state, in reality there are elements of different models. However, this dominates one or another of them, so that you can determine what kind of social states are these or other countries.

The most common model of a social state

The most common model isthe basis of which is the responsibility of society as a whole for the fate of each of its members. The main principle in this case is the condition that the young pay for the old, and the rich for the poor. The state redistributes the tax deductions that it receives, through the budget, social programs, insurance funds, the social service system. Non-governmental institutions of social assistance (programs, funds, etc.) play an auxiliary role.

Internal contradictions of the social state

Considering the theme "Social state: concept, essence, signs ", it should be noted that it has internal contradictions.The social state passes through certain stages of development and the stage of formation.The reflection of these problems and contradictions was a broad discussion that unfolded in foreign political and scientific science in the 1980s-1990s about its future and its crisis.The basis of the processes that caused the aggravation of the problems existing in the social state lie the uneven and cyclical nature of economic development, as well as the vulnerability of the social sector Temperature and economy impact of the events of internal and foreign policy. The illusion of harmony between economic growth and expanding state distribution practices of social and economic benefits has destroyed the global economic crisis. It has shown that there are serious monetary problems, it is impossible to endlessly exploit cheap raw materials imported.

Discussion about the prospects and crisis of socialthe state became aggravated again when socialism was destroyed in the states of Eastern Europe, when the FRG was faced with economic difficulties associated with the development of the lands of eastern Germany, when the enlargement of the European Union was taking place. All these global economic and geopolitical changes have revealed the complexity in the relationship between the state and society.

Social and legal state

What else can you tell by revealing the topic"The social state: the concept, signs, functions"? Note that the modern social state represents a stage of development that follows the state paternalistic. The social state is not a stage in the development of the legal state. Nevertheless, only a law-based state can become a social state, that is, one in which the mechanisms of the rule of law are sufficiently developed.

Social politics

Social policy is one of the maininstruments of realization of the state social. The relationship between them manifests itself in how deep and complete the social state pursues social policy, and also in the degree to which it expresses the interests and needs of its citizens.

To achieve results and goals related to theimprovement of social and material well-being, social policy is directed. Its goal is also to improve the life of the entire population, to prevent the emergence of social tension.

The essence of the social policy of the state, whichhas set itself the goal of becoming a social state, it must be to ensure a high standard of living for the population, conditions for improving well-being. The task of implementing an effective, strong social policy in such a state is brought to the forefront.

So, we talked about what a socialstate. The concept, essence, signs and models of it were described by us. Each state should strive to realize its principles to the maximum. The Russian Federation is also a social state. The concept, features, functions are fixed in the Constitution of our country. It was adopted in 1993. Since then, Russia is officially a social state. The concept and signs (TGP is engaged in their study) it is used in the policy pursued by Russia. However, in fact, the formation of a social state is still at an early stage in our country.

The topic "Social state: concept and attributes" is very topical today. Presentation, abstract or course work on it can be made with the support of the material from this article.