Electoral behavior: be an active citizen!

It is unlikely that in the era of technology, innovation and, asmany people think that raising the awareness of the population as a result of informatization can be met by a person who has never heard of political science. Of course, every citizen considers himself at least half understanding what is happening at the top of the power, because it is said in the media. In addition, the news every day proclaims that political science in modern Russia has reached new frontiers, but only to what and by what criteria is a mystery.

So the level of literacy leaveswish for the best. Few people know what, in general, is, for example, electoral behavior, how it relates to each of us. How to use this concept to determine the true motives for your participation in the life of the country. Ideally, a citizen needs to know the different types of political participation. I would like to talk about all this in more detail.

Electoral behavior - the actions of a citizen, which are associated with the selection of candidates for government at all levels. In addition to standard elections, referenda are also included here.

It should be noted that not everyone of us at allever voted, and if I did, I chose the favorites according to certain criteria. All have their own criteria, therefore, and say that electoral behavior is homogeneous, it is impossible. We distinguish three groups.

The first includes rational voters whofocus exclusively on the actions of candidates, assess the prospects of their "heyday at the helm," and then draw conclusions. There are almost no such responsible citizens in Russia, or they are very well disguised.

In the second group, voters depend on someone else'sopinions. This includes the usual way to vote "to make things worse", that is, for the party that is. Thus, we simply disclaim responsibility, sail with the flow, and so, unfortunately, in Russia occurs everywhere.

The third group is cognitive behavior, or mixed. It is important here as your opinion, formed under the influence of education, books read, work place, etc., and the foundations, traditions of the family.

It is also important to consider such a notion as typespolitical participation. According to the methods of activity, they are divided into conventional participation, when any actions taken do not go beyond the existing norms, and unconventional (unauthorized rallies, etc.). Electoral behavior is closely intertwined with this category.

The convention is divided intopassive participation, when an individual is interested in politics, but is not a conformist actor, under which there is support for the existing regime because that is the opinion of the majority and the protest regime.

Protest behavior is activist andreformist. The first assumes cardinal measures to change the existing political order, while the second part is aimed at gradual improvement through peaceful reforms.

Types of political participation differ not onlyon the methods of activity, but also on motives: autonomous and mobilization. At the first citizens actively express their political position of goodwill, and according to the second - only by coercion.

Political Science in Modern Russiaconsiders many concepts, besides those described above. However, it should be borne in mind that as such there is no political thinking among our citizens, because there is no prerequisite: the popularity of the departments of political science on which a new political elite could be brought up is not high. And those who received such a higher education earlier, it is unlikely that due to the age and Soviet upbringing they will actively advocate for fundamental changes in the country.

Of course, the authorities are making attempts topeople were better versed in the ongoing reforms, realized the advantages of democracy and became active citizens of their country. However, in fact it turns out that citizens who are interested and understanding are "pushed" so that they do not spoil their opinion with the general favorable picture. While illiterate, but supporting all beginnings, are more often at the top. Here is a paradox.