FREE POLITICAL ELECTIONS AND SOCIETY’S SECURITY Cover Image

СВОБОДНЫЕ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИЕ ВЫБОРЫ И БЕЗОПАСНОСТЬ ОБЩЕСТВА
FREE POLITICAL ELECTIONS AND SOCIETY’S SECURITY

Author(s): Svetlana Rozhneva
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Петрозаводский государственный университет
Keywords: free elections; political security; liberalism; parliamentary; electoral cycles

Summary/Abstract: This article analyzes a liberal principle of free choice in the context of political security of the society. It emphasizes that issues of security manifest themselves in many spheres of social life; however, overcoming of dictatorship becomes the goal of establishing political security. Three historical periods are studied (Russia at the turn of the XXth century, Soviet Russia, and contemporary period), when attempts to diffract free election ideas through parliamentary values in the political system are undertaken. The article notes that Russian citizens have never had a free choice due to constant restrictions of their political freedom. At the time of monarchial regime, elections were neither universal, nor equal. During the Soviet time, elections were necessary to legitimize the system characterized by a high degree of particularism. The contemporary period is heterogeneal and is divided into electoral cycles, thus, it reflects traditional foundations of national elections, as well as their modification during contemporary period. This indicates the impossibility of establishing an ideal model of political choice in Russia. At the same time, such model imperils security of the Russian society