Political opinion. The role of public opinion in politics

Questions and answers are given in Twitter mode: no more than 140 characters per message.

1. If not Putin, then who?
The one who gets the most votes in fair elections after the change of power.

2. Where is your economic and social program?
Our task is to change the government and carry out reforms, incl. fair elections. On them you will select candidates with the best programs.

3. A revolution is a civil war.
No. None of the notorious 86% ever went outside of their own free will. They have no experience of either political or physical struggle.

4. Putin will call Kadyrov and Ramzan Akhmatovich and his thugs will hurt you.
In hot times, Kadyrov will have to defend himself (there are many opposing clans in the Caucasus). Well, the Russian military will settle their scores with him.

5. You will all be dispersed.
If there are not enough of us, yes, they will disperse us. If a million determined people come out, they won’t disperse.

6. They will shoot at you.
They can. But you cannot live in slavery.

7. Without weapons, it is impossible to change power.
It will work out. In August 1991, it worked in Russia. It turned out in Eastern Europe, Baltic States, Georgia and Ukraine.

8. You must be responsible for those people you take out into the street.
Everyone has equal responsibility, both the leader and the ordinary oppositionist. The measure of responsibility is one in 143 million.

9. What priority reforms will you make after the change of government?
Lustration, fair elections, independent judiciary and free media.

10. The country will fall apart after the revolution.
If the regions are given power and money is not taken away, the country will not fall apart. Decentralization of power is one of the future reforms.

11. After the change of power, the same people who rule now will come, because they have money and will buy everything.
Firstly, there will be lustration, and secondly, after the change of power, we must control all the officials, even the most democratic ones.

12. Whose Crimea?
Crimea is Ukraine. Just like Donbass, it is also Ukraine.

13. What to do with Crimea after the change of power?
Crimea and Donbass will be transferred to Ukraine. For the murder of people, Ukraine will be paid compensation, and those responsible for the annexation will be put on trial.

14. These people have already stolen, they don’t need much, but new, hungry people will come and steal even more.
If you leave everything to chance, they will actually steal. Therefore, it is not enough to change power; we must learn to control officials.

15. You are paid by the US State Department.
During the 17 years of Putin’s rule (a KGB lieutenant colonel), his department has not identified a single case of oppositionists receiving money from the State Department.

16. But you, oppositionists, haven’t tried to work?
Most oppositionists work and protest outside of work. By the way, some are fired for opposition activities.

17. Instead of protesting, would you get down to business, for example, help an orphanage?
We help orphanages, hospitals, and shelters. But it is useless to hit their tails; the entire system of power needs to be changed.

18. Why doesn’t the opposition unite?
A number of oppositionists have many ambitions and little pain for the country. Don’t look at them, act on your own, look for like-minded people and unite.

19. How to change power?
Power must be changed on the street through a peaceful democratic revolution, that is, through the exit of a huge number of determined people.

20. The majority of the population does not want to change the government, why do you, the minority, want to impose your opinion?
Yes, we are a minority, but it is the minority that makes change. For a revolution you need 1-2% of the population and 10-15% of support.

21. You, Democrats, were already in power in the 90s and nothing worked out for you, are you going to take revenge?
We want to drive away the thieves and international terrorists. We want to transfer power to the people. This is not reprehensible. This is a fight for your country.

22. The USA, the West, the Anglo-Saxons, the Masons, the Jews are to blame for everything, world government, it is they who wish Russia trouble and misfortune.
The West is afraid authoritarian regimes and does not want Russia to be like that. The West is not the enemy, it wants to bring us into the circle of civilized countries.

23. There is no point in going to pickets, walks and rallies. When the real storm begins, then I will come out.
The revolution will not start at the snap of a finger. It begins with the pre-revolutionary situation and must be prepared with protest actions of various scales.

24. What to do with current officials after a change of government?
Most odious figures will appear before the court and tribunal and go to prison, up to life sentence, and their assistants will face lustration.

25. Is nationalization of enterprises necessary after a change of government?
Only enterprises stolen from the state should be nationalized. The property of honest entrepreneurs must be protected.

26. Is it necessary to introduce a visa regime with neighboring countries?
A visa regime is usually introduced by countries with a low level of democracy - a reciprocal visa regime should be applied to them.

27. You, the opposition, do not have specialists; you will not be able to govern the country after the change of power.
We have specialists in all sectors of the national economy. Suffice it to say that all segments of the population are involved in social protest.

28. What can I do alone? I am the only oppositionist here in the city. There is a “swamp” all around.
You are definitely not alone! Organize a protest cell around you, call people. You will see that there are like-minded people.

29. Power will fall on its own, since the economy is collapsing, change is inevitable. Why bother?
Change is inevitable, but if you just wait, then the seizure of power by authoritarian structures is possible. Changes must be prepared and made ourselves.

30. Who should I join? How can I be useful to the opposition?
Find a protest cell in your city. If there is none, create it yourself. Make noise both on the street and online. Invite people to your place!

A. Definition

The expression "political opinion" should not be taken only in the narrow sense of participation in a political party or political process. As one prominent American immigration expert explained, the meaning of “political opinion” in the refugee definition “should be understood broadly to include, within the basic limitations now being developed primarily in the field of human rights, any opinion on any issue that can be accepted in apparatus of the state, government and police."

The Fourth US Circuit Court described "political opinion" as "originally" promulgated "by the petitioner's verbal or overtly expressed conduct political asylum evidence in accordance with the particular case." Recognizing that "less overt symbolic actions can also express a political opinion," the court found as a basis that "whatever behavior an asylum seeker seeks to promote as political, it must be motivated by an ideal or a particular conviction before it can form the basis for political asylum in the United States."

The expression of political opinion may take different shapes— there are many types of opinions and views that can fall under the general category of “political.” Depending on the specific asylum claim in the United States, some examples of expressions of political opinions outside the traditional political process may include:

1. Expressing feminist beliefs

2. Exposing government human rights abuses

3. Activities to protect or establish the right of association (such as trade unions), workers' rights, or other civil liberties

4. Participation in various student groups

5. Participation in community improvement organizations or cooperatives, or in the land reform movement

6. Refusal to carry out orders that violate human rights

7. Whistleblowing or other opposition to government corruption

Note: Informing authorities about individuals participating in illegal activities, does not necessarily constitute grounds for eligibility for political asylum in the United States. However, such actions may well be carried out in a political context. For example, providing the government with information about a guerrilla group when the guerrilla group perceives such information as opposition to it would be grounds for well-founded fear or persecution based on (imputed) political opinion.

Note. Musabelliu v. Gonzales, 442 F. 3d 991 (7th Cir. 2006) (the court held that the asylum seeker's harm was not due to political opinion because the asylum seeker's exposure of command and prosecutorial corruption in his military sector was part of his duties as brigadier general, and not a “socio-political position”).

Thuri v. Ashcroft, 380 F.3d 788 (5th Cir. 2004) (evidence fails to establish that disclosure of a single incident by police officers is considered by the government to be an expression of political opinion).

B. The opinion must be that of, or attributable to, the asylum seeker

Persecution on grounds of political opinion means persecution due to political opinion asylum seeker, or the opinion attributed to that person, and not the opinion of the pursuer.

The fact that the persecutor is motivated by political objectives or represents a political organization does not of itself prove that the persecution is carried out in connection with a political opinion. The harasser must be motivated by the person's opinion, or perceived opinion.

C. Neutrality

Although the BIA did not grant U.S. asylum or withholding of removal based on the asylum seeker's decision to remain neutral during a period of dispute, the Board reviewed U.S. asylum applications on the principle that in some cases neutrality may be a form of political opinion.

2. US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

The First and Ninth US Circuits have found that neutrality may constitute a political opinion. The Eighth US Circuit Court also noted that neutrality may, in some cases, be a form of political opinion.

3. Dangerous neutrality

The Ninth US Circuit Court followed the "dangerous neutrality" doctrine. Remaining neutral in an environment where neutrality poses a threat from the government, or from uncontrolled anti-government forces, is an expression of political opinion.

For example, refusing to choose both sides in civil war can be regarded as an oppositional action by participants on both sides of the conflict.

Political neutrality may include the absence of any political opinions. Neutrality can be demonstrated by statement or action(s).

4. Perception of neutrality of the asylum seeker

The determining question is how the persecutor views the neutrality of a given asylum seeker and whether the persecutor targets that asylum seeker because of his neutrality. If the asylum seeker has not stated or otherwise affirmatively expressed his neutrality, the pursuer may not be aware of it.

Often during a conflict, from the point of view of the pursuer, there can be no neutrality at all. In the eyes of the pursuer, “either you are with us or against us.” The persecutor can impute an opposing political opinion to anyone who is neutral.

D. Imputed political opinion

Persecution “in connection with a political opinion” includes persecution for a political opinion that was attributed to a person, even if he did not actually have that opinion. Again the determining issue is how the pursuer views the person. Some factors taken into account include:

1. Whether the asylum seeker has committed any actions that the pursuer would consider to be a political opinion, even if the asylum seeker did not intend them to be so.

Example. The de facto government of Haiti during the ouster of President Aristide associated members public committees to improve life with President Aristide. In the eyes of the military and their supporters, sweeping the street or participating in a literacy campaign showed support for the ousted president.

Example. In 1999, the Chinese government outlawed the practice of Falun Gong, a philosophy that combines aspects of Taoism, Buddhism and meditation techniques Qigong, with the teachings of Li Hongzhi. The government viewed those who practiced Falun Gong as having anti-government political beliefs. An asylum seeker in the United States who was targeted by Chinese authorities for selling Falun Gong literature can prove persecution based on an alleged political opinion, even if he does not support the movement and was selling the books only for profit, since there is evidence that the authorities perceive this asylum seeker as an opponent of the government.

2. Statements made by the persecutor which may provide the persecutor's view of the asylum seeker or persons in a similar situation to the asylum seeker.

3. Treatment of the persecutor with persons in a situation similar to the given asylum seeker

4. Reports on country conditions

Understanding all political situation in the country may provide the context in which the pursuer operates.

5. The severity of any punishment incurred by the asylum seeker.

Circumstantial evidence of persecutory intent "most often consists of a punishment so severe that it seems clearly directed at real or perceived enemies rather than at common offenders."

6. Whether the persecutor had reasons, unrelated to the political opinion of the asylum seeker, to use power against him (for example, a legitimate criminal investigation into a crime in which the asylum seeker was involved)

E. Attempts to overthrow the government

1. Basic Rules

a. Prosecution for attempting to overthrow a government may constitute persecution for political opinion if there is no lawful political mechanisms for a change of power.

b. Legitimate government investigation and punishment of individuals who fought against the government in civil conflict, is not generally considered persecution based on political opinion.

Perlera-Escobar v. EOIR and INS, 894 F.2d 1292, 1299 (11th Cir. 1990) (cited as admitted on international level right properly established state defend yourself from attack and rebellion).

2. Consideration

A. The research and analysis are similar in both cases, whether the asylum seeker is a participant in the attempt coup d'etat, or an armed uprising. First, we must determine the motivation of the government that the asylum seeker fears to persecute that asylum seeker, and then determine whether that asylum seeker's actions constitute an obstacle to his or her asylum protection in the United States. If institutions are in place to ensure a peaceful transition of power, prosecuting a person who attempts to violently overthrow a government will generally not be considered persecution if the law and the application of that law are neutral in intent. A "duly constituted" government has the right to investigate the actions of its suspected enemies.

b. If a government persecutes people trying to overthrow it unusually harshly or in a way that does not normally punish people who share the same protected characteristic, an asylum seeker in the United States may be able to demonstrate that he was persecuted because of the protected characteristic, even if some institutions for peaceful change are in place. in stock.

With. When analyzing fear of persecution for actions taken to overthrow the government, the Asylum Officer must consider the legitimacy of the laws applied to the asylum seeker. When a government does not recognize the international human right to peaceful protest, punishing a politically motivated act against it may not be a legitimate exercise of power.

d. The asylum officer must also consider actions taken by the asylum seeker in furtherance of an attempt to overthrow the government. If these actions involve persecution or torture of other people, severe harm to civilian population, or with terrorist activity, they may trigger a mandatory discretionary refusal. Remember that this is a ground for denial that is separate from the question of whether the “connection” requirement has been met.

Example. The U.S. Supreme Court has considered whether violent acts committed as part of efforts to overthrow the Guatemalan government would bar or disqualify individuals from seeking political asylum in the U.S. as serious crimes. The court adopted the BIA's evaluative test of whether the criminal nature of the conduct outweighs the political benefit sought. It was decided that the actions, which included harming civilians, burning buses and destroying property, and the criminal nature of these actions, outweighed their political purpose.

Note. Remember that this decision preceded changes in the anti-terrorism prohibitions for political asylum in the United States under the American Patriot Act and Real ID Act. According to the law, as amended by these Statutes, a political asylum seeker may be disqualified for his terrorist activities. See INA section 212(a)(3)(B)(iii).

Detailed solution Paragraph § 27 in social studies for 11th grade students, authors L.N. Bogolyubov, N.I. Gorodetskaya, L.F. Ivanova 2014

Question 1. Is a person’s attitude to politics revealed only in words? Where is the boundary of acceptable behavior in political activity?

Political values ​​and norms are the most important regulators of political activity. Norms in politics mean the rules of political behavior, expectations and standards, prohibitions and regulators that regulate the political activities of individuals and social groups in accordance with the values ​​of the respective political culture, strengthening the stability and unity of the political system of society. In politics, as in any other social activity, there is also a measure, i.e. reasonable limit of permissible. This measure is determined by the interests of security and stable development of society.

Political norms are derived from the corresponding political values and are based on them, but on the other hand, the latter are expressed in them. If values ​​answer the question of how to relate to the phenomena of political reality, to what is and what can be, then norms prescribe what to do with them.

Compliance with political norms is ensured in society through the use of rewards and punishments. These positive and negative political sanctions act as the most specific direct and immediate element in the structure of political regulation.

Political norms are essentially social, since they reflect the interests of people that are formed in social sphere. It is on the basis of such interests that the corresponding political institutions of society arise - parties, the state, etc. - the interaction between which precisely occurs on the basis of compliance with political norms.

Political norms differ in the method of fixation (formal and informal, oral and written, explicit or latent), in the degree of generalization ( general principles political activity or specific patterns of political behavior), by type political regime their functioning (democratic, authoritarian, totalitarian); they can express both positive (instructions) and negative (taboo-prohibitions) characteristics of political action.

Political norms exist in three areas social reality: in normative statements of those in power and those ruled; V social relations, which determine the rules of their functioning; in consciousness - as the experience of these norms.

Questions and tasks for the document

However, in general, the many millions of Americans who do not vote do not belong to the most comfortable, but to the less affluent and more embittered sections of the population, where an extraordinary concentration of socially disadvantaged people is found.

What is taken for apathy, in fact, may well be a way in which the human psyche protects itself from powerlessness and despair. Non-participation in elections is not the result of complete contentment or lack of civic virtues, but an understandable negative reaction to the political realities that people face in their lives.

Yes, it can be applied.

Question 3. What do you think are the reasons and consequences of the passivity of some Russian citizens in elections?

The passivity of some Russians in elections can be explained simply - they do not believe in fair elections and believe that nothing depends on their participation. Fair elections in Russia there is a myth that no one believes in.

SELF-TEST QUESTIONS

Question 1. What is called political behavior? How do its forms differ? Give examples.

Participation in political life can also be considered from the point of view of a person’s attitude to politics, to the people participating in it, to himself. The external manifestation of this relationship is human behavior, which can be assessed from the standpoint of morality and law.

Political behavior is the actions and actions of a political subject that characterize his interaction with the social environment, with various socio-political forces. This is a set of actions, conscious actions aimed at achieving some socially significant goal, actions generated by traditions, value guidelines, as well as unconscious actions caused by emotional state individual.

Political behavior covers all forms political activity personality, its actions and inactions.

Participation in a political demonstration is a possible political action. Non-participation in elections is also possible variant political behavior in the form of inaction. Inaction in this case is also an act that may have certain consequences for the development of the political situation. Participation in elections, demonstrations, rallies, from the point of view of publicity of actions, is classified as open forms of political behavior, and political passivity, the desire to escape political life - to closed forms.

From the point of view of continuity, forms of political behavior are divided into traditional (corresponding to established political ideas, mentality, typical of a given political culture) and innovative (creating new patterns of political behavior, generating new features of political relations).

According to its target orientation, political behavior can be constructive (contributing to the normal functioning of the political system) and destructive (undermining the political order).

Political behavior can be individual, group or mass. Individual political behavior is the actions of an individual that have socio-political significance (a practical action or public statement that expresses an opinion about politicians and politics). Group political behavior is associated with activity political organizations or a spontaneously formed politically active group of individuals. The most widespread forms of political behavior are elections, referendums, rallies, and demonstrations. In a group, and even more in a mass political behavior imitation, emotional contagion, empathy, and subordination of individual behavior to group norms are observed.

Question 2. What are the motives for political behavior?

The motives of political behavior are all those values ​​and interests of a person that relate to political life. Some influence the political sphere of society positively by creating political associations, unions, and others - negatively, which, in turn, means the emergence of political confrontations and confrontations.

The value aspects of political behavior appear most clearly in actions. In real political behavior, conscious and unconscious, rational and emotional components are in complex interactions. Behavior can vary in intensity from correct, civilized interactions to demonstrations of hostility and ill will, verbal abuse, even the use of physical force.

The presence of conscious political interests and values ​​of the individual is of decisive importance in political behavior. Because the political interests reflect the situation in society of various population groups; representatives of these groups, as a rule, are aimed at realizing these interests through politics. From this point of view, the political behavior of small entrepreneurs may differ from the behavior of, for example, government officials.

No less important are the values ​​shared by a particular group of the population. The establishment of democratic values ​​in people's minds largely determines their orientation towards democratic parties and to democratic ones, legal forms political behavior.

Question 3. In what cases does protest behavior take place?

Protest forms are distinguished in the structure of political behavior. Political protest is a manifestation of a negative attitude towards the political system as a whole or towards its individual elements, norms, values, political decisions in an openly demonstrated form. Rallies, demonstrations, marches, picketing, and strikes often take this form. They are, as a rule, caused by a state of dissatisfaction caused by the discrepancy between the real and expected position to which the subject strives.

Question 4. How is electoral behavior characterized?

Voting behavior depends on a number of factors. In countries where the party system has long been established, the ties of voters with certain parties are quite stable. From election to election, they vote for the party that they traditionally consider “theirs.” A significant part of voters vote for those candidates and for those parties that offer the most acceptable solution to existing problems. Finally, there is individual and group commitment to certain candidates. In this case, they vote not so much for the program, but for the candidate, based on a positive assessment of what he has already done or is going to do.

Question 5. Explain why extremist behavior is dangerous.

Political life also demonstrates extreme (extreme) forms of political behavior. Extremism is a commitment in politics to extreme views and measures, legal nihilism, behavior that violates legal and moral standards. Behind last decades The world has witnessed many manifestations of right-wing and left-wing political extremism. For example, cases of public self-immolation of activists political movements, seeking in this way to attract attention to their demands. Or taking hostages for ransom, which is used to finance the activities of their group. Such forms of political behavior arise under the influence extremist organizations seeking to provoke mass unrest. They are exposed to random, temporary gatherings of people: participants in meetings or rallies, demonstrations, crowds on the street.

Extremist types of political behavior include terrorism. Political terrorism is the systematic or isolated implementation of violence with the use of weapons (explosions, arson, organization of disasters, etc.) or the threat of violence that causes harm to people and property in order to create a climate of fear, panic, a sense of anxiety, danger, mistrust authorities. The main thing is to intimidate the government and the population. Unlike ordinary criminal offenses, political terrorism manifests itself in such political actions that receive a wide public response that can shock the entire society and influence the course of political events and decision making.

Political terrorism at the end of the 20th century. took on an international character. He has modern technical means, including weapons of mass destruction, in his hands. The task of combating terrorism faces individual states and the entire world community.

Question 6. What are the possibilities for regulating political behavior?

People's political behavior, like any other, is regulated by society and the state in various forms.

Firstly, it is important legal regulation. Laws contain norms that, in the interests of the safety of society and the state, and the protection of morality, establish restrictions on the use of civil rights and freedom. For example, the right to gather for rallies, demonstrations, and picketing is limited by the indication that these meetings must take place peacefully, without weapons. Terror, organization riots etc. are considered criminal acts and entail criminal liability.

Secondly, it is important that democratic values ​​are established in society, defining the civilized rules of the game in political arena. Political and moral rules can influence political behavior when they are supported by public opinion.

Third, great importance has an organization of political subjects. The presence of organizations whose activities comply with the requirements of the law reduces the role of spontaneous manifestations in political life, makes political behavior more responsible, and increases the possibility of its regulation.

Fourthly, political education and the dissemination of truthful political information make political behavior more rational and provide political subjects with effective and at the same time civilized ways to achieve political goals.

Fifthly, a lot depends on political leaders, their norms, their ability to relieve excessive political tension and agitation of the masses, to promote the rationalization of actions taken, and the ability to lead followers along the path of compliance with legal, political and moral norms.

The effective action of these factors allows high level the activity of political subjects to keep political life within the framework of norms recognized by society and the state.

TASKS

Question 1. Speeches by anti-globalists in a number of European cities at the beginning of the 21st century. were accompanied by clashes with the police; they left behind broken shop windows, overturned and burned cars, and piles of garbage. How to evaluate the political behavior of the participants in this movement?

In a politicized crowd, manifestations of affective, unconscious behavior are likely. Affective behavior is manifested in a rapidly occurring reaction of a subject to a strong external stimulus, in which a person’s conscious control over his actions weakens or disappears completely. The crowd is characterized by intolerance, impulsiveness, irritability, susceptibility to suggestion, one-sidedness of feelings and variability. A person’s responsibility for his actions seems to dissolve in the emotions of the crowd. A crowd is fraught with the danger of affective behavior, aggressiveness, riots, and violence.

Question 2. Compare with the statement of G. Le Bon given in the text of the paragraph the following description of the crowd given by L.N. Tolstoy: “Whatever the defenders of the people’s meaning may say, the crowd is a combination of even good people, but in contact only with animals, vile sides and expressing only weaknesses and cruelty human nature" What do these crowd characteristics have in common? How are they different?

The so-called criminal crowd. A crowd may be criminal from the point of view of the law, but it will not be so from the point of view of the law. psychological point vision. Complete unconsciousness of the actions of the crowd. Le Bon is referring to rallies and protests where a crowd (a gathering of people pursuing a common interest and having a common goal, in general) violates the law, the rules of law established and sanctioned by the state. But at the same time, their interest is not aimed at committing illegal actions, i.e., a completely legitimate desire. L.N. Tolstoy, on the contrary, argues that the crowd is nothing more than a destructive element. Its goals may be different, but the ways to achieve it are very dangerous and necessarily involve overstepping the bounds of the law. This crowd is characterized by destruction, destruction, and humiliation of human dignity.

Question 3. A sociological study conducted in 2010 on the readiness of young people to assist authorities government controlled and municipal self-government in the implementation of state youth policy gave the following results. 32% of respondents expressed their readiness to participate in the discussion of adopted laws and plans; participate in organizing various promotions and events - 31%; undecided - 15%. At the same time, 12% said: “It’s none of my business.” Another 7% responded that they didn’t think it was real. Do these data indicate the political behavior of young people?

Yes, these data indicate the political behavior of young people.

Question 4. A study by sociologists of opinions on how to eradicate international terrorism revealed the following points of view. “Ruthlessly destroy terrorists” was answered by 55% of respondents. “It is necessary to eliminate its causes: inequality, injustice, oppression” - the opinion of 49% of those answering the question. The answer “Strengthen control at the borders, protect yourself from possible terrorists” was supported by 46%. Opinion 16% - “International terrorism can be defeated by limiting democratic freedoms" What do you think about this issue? Give reasons for your point of view.

To eradicate international terrorism it is necessary to eliminate its causes: inequality, injustice, oppression.

Public opinion is formed under the direct influence of everyday consciousness. Public opinion is the position of mass consciousness, which includes the attitude (hidden or explicit) of various social communities, layers and classes, groups of people to the events and facts of social reality. Public opinion really manifests itself through a system of sociological research, surveys, and people’s freedoms in the process election campaigns, referendums, mass rallies, processions, meetings, through means mass media. Operating in all areas public life, public opinion simultaneously has boundaries determined by the social significance of the events and phenomena being discussed. Progressive role public opinion most noticeable when combining the ordinary public consciousness with theory.

Mass consciousness is fixed in public opinion, which constitutes, on the one hand, a political institution that participates in the exercise of power, a decision-making mechanism at all levels of society, and on the other, an aggregate judgment shared by various social communities regarding certain events, phenomena of reality. Public opinion takes a certain position, gives advice, recommendations, and makes decisions on various issues socio-political life, regulates the behavior of individuals, communities and social institutions, supporting or denying certain ideas, values, norms. Fully thought - the sphere of political competition, rivalry, in which economic and political forces are involved, since the formation and reflection of what constitutes its content, depends on the material means of formation and dissemination of thought and political means that will determine the boundaries of legal social thought, prerequisites. The nature of the influence of public opinion on political processes depends on the existing political system. Thus, in conditions of totalitarianism and authoritarianism, with the help of state institutions, mass consciousness is manipulated and public opinion loses its meaning. Public opinion as an element of functioning political systems- a constantly operating management factor, through which several influential functions are implemented:: expressive-control which determines the political life of certain communities; advisory, giving advice on finding optimal political action;directive that makes decisions on certain issues, regulates the behavior of individuals, social communities and institutions, supports or rejects certain ideas, values ​​and norms

Public opinion can be true or false, illusory, and is formed under the influence of not only socio-economic and political factors, but also through ideological means. The action of many factors - the composition of those communities that express their opinions, the degree of coincidence of interests of social strata and groups, the nature of the problems discussed - determines public opinion. But the very process of the formation and functioning of public opinion can occur spontaneously. IN modern conditions the formation of public opinion is reflected in a certain influence from numerous political parties, movements. United media. Due to the fact that public opinion is an important means of struggle for power, political history gives many examples of its manipulation and processing in the interests of certain political forces.

The formation of public opinion is increasingly influenced by the media. Sociological research show that the absolute majority of the Ukrainian population names television and the press as priority sources of political information. Great is the civil and political responsibility of media workers for the truthfulness of publications, for preventing possible negative influences on the sus of animals the opinion and creation of ill-conceived or simply false broadcasts and publications.

The interests of people are in political consciousness and public opinion, and it is important to achieve a certain consistency, harmony between public opinion and consciousness. Any political decision is doomed to failure if it comes into conflict with the dominant interests in society, with political consciousness, prevailing. Weighing the possibility of contradictions between public opinion on a particular problem and the policies being implemented, the Polish sociologist. Jerzy. Vyatr noted that contradictions should be eliminated and they, as a rule, are eliminated by one or two means: either by changing the policy being implemented, or by effectively influencing public opinion in order to restore compliance between it and the policy. Attempts to “solve” the contradictions by forceful, violent means can cause serious and political consequences.

One of the spiritual factors of the modern political process is public opinion. Public opinion is one of the forms public consciousness, existing in the form a complex of relatively stable collective mass perceptions, assessments, ideas, reflecting the positions and interests of the bulk of citizens and fixing their attitude to the main problems and realities of the social and political life of the country.

Public opinion is an attribute secular, democratic society and states without signs of pronounced politicization and political split. Accented political confrontation in the country prevents the formation of stable mass ideas. A similar situation exists in Ukraine, which is at the stage of forming democracy in conditions of a sharp political split among the main political groupings. Consequently, objective conditions for mature public opinion in Ukraine have not yet been created, which results in its mobility and peculiar opportunism, as well as excessive politicization.

Political ideas and assessments constitute only part of public opinion, indicating the most significant for citizens political problems. It is the political component that is its most dynamic element, reflecting increased dynamics political sphere society, changes in the mood of citizens.

The main carriers and exponents of public opinion are the media: radio, press, television. The political component of public opinion can also be expressed in mass political actions: rallies, demonstrations, marches. National elections in representative bodies authorities, referendums. Since the political preferences of citizens during elections are recorded in the support of popular politicians and authoritative parties, this is an expression of their support by public opinion.

Public opinion is expressed in assessments of major political events, the activities of political leaders, support or disapproval, condemnation activities of state institutions and important international political actions.

The influence of public opinion on politics is reflected in its characterization as the “Fourth Estate” existing in the country. In essence, the “fourth estate” is a reflection of the authority of society, the people, their real ability to influence politics ruling elite, parties. Public opinion acts as a kind of spiritual mediator between civil society and state power, the most important means legitimation authorities.

Its most important functions include:

· Function legitimation of power, its institutions and representatives;

· Function examinations, assessments major events and phenomena of social life; actions of politicians and famous people;

· Function socialization or the formation of citizens and their consciousness;

· Function mobilization and management behavior of citizens;

· Function stabilization socio-political processes;

· Function communications or means of interaction state and society, community groups, institutions and citizens, etc.

Public opinion is the object of constant influence from the state and influential political parties and groups. The purpose of this influence is to use his capabilities and authority to solve any corporate, group or personal problems. The instrument of this influence is the media; there is a fierce struggle for control over them in all democratic countries. Therefore, the presence of freedom of the press and other means mass communication is the most important condition for the presence of political and ideological pluralism, as well as the possibility for the existence of a full-fledged public opinion.

His condition is the subject of constant scientific study, examination by representatives of sociological, political and other social sciences. Polls public opinion, its monitoring(conducting ongoing research on any social problem and the attitude of various categories of citizens towards it) are today carried out in all countries and have become part of the practice of everyday management of the affairs of society and the state. None Political Party today cannot act without studying and using information about the state of public positions (opinions) of citizens on key political issues.

Almost all modern social and political technologies, used government institutions, parties, civil organizations and institutions are based on public opinion research and their results. All this allows us to conclude that public opinion in developed countries has become the most important factor And regulator socio-political processes, a factor in the general socio-cultural and political evolution society and state.

The mechanism of influence of citizens and public groups on state decisions is also based on the use of the authority of public opinion. Rallies, demonstrations and other mass events political actions aimed at public opinion, at the formation of an appropriate social situation, civil mood, which should be ignored ruling party and the country's leaders cannot without risking losing public support. Along with this support, they automatically lose power, or the opportunity to be elected as representatives of society and the people.