„Regime-order” and „regime-structure” in political system

Abstract

The article deals with the problem of identification of political system typology in dependence on its mode of operation. The author is of the opinion that political regime is not identical to political system, being a compound of modes and methods of political rule, and according to their nature, the political system is assessed in its working condition. Another thesis propounded by the author is that political regime should be examined both as an „order” of political system operation and as a separate subject with its own system relations among actors realizing political rule. Based on this premise, the notions of „regime-order” and „regime-structure” have been proposed. In effect, it is actually „regime-structure” that regulates the functioning of political system’s „regime-order”, i.e., that determines the character of political rule. Connected to the operation of political system in practice, the notion of „deviation” is introduced in a sense of deflecting a „working” system’s regime from the „project” one, as drawn in constitution and laws. But situations can occur when the system begins to operate in the „working” regime before the „project” regime is established. In such a case, the character of the political „regime-order” becomes dependent on personal moral and political cultural preferences of those who gathered together in „regime-structure”, and their preferences in a form of principles and modes of rule may become the political tradition, at least for some time. The conceptual innovations proposed by the author are illustrated with the account of the evolution of both political regime forms in Ukraine during its political sphere’s independent development. The constant overflowing of ruling modes from one regime to another are caused also by the quality of social environment, first of all due to the domination of paternalist psychology therein. The most negative result of such evolution of feedback between ruling regimes and society is a domination of emotions over rationality in mass political thinking and behavior. Key words: political system, political regime, „regime-order”, „regime-structure”, political rule