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MODERN RUSSIA: IDEOLOGY, POLITICS, CULTURE AND RELIGION
2016.11.001. M. GORSHKOV. REGARDING THE INFLUENCE OF THE NON-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON THE SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIETY // "Gumanitariy Yuga Rossii", Moscow, 2015, № 1, P. 15-25 (the beginning), № 2, P. 10-20 (the end).
Keywords: sociology, economics, economic crisis, monitoring, non-economic factors: socio-cultural, ethnic and religious, physical, geographical, technological innovation, psychological, institutional and political factors.
M. Gorshkov,
Academician of RAS, Director of the Institute of Sociology, RAS
The author of the abstracted article writes that all the models of economic growth (coming exclusively from the quantitative aspect of the economic system, characterized by the expansion of its scale) should be considered extremely limited and ineffective. The global economic crisis of 2008-2009 has demonstrated the importance of economic factors in the system of anti-crisis measures and the possibility of keeping economic stability and restoring of economic growth, the consequences of which got a new development due to the sharp fluctuations in the oil and financial markets in 2014.
Economic and non-economic factors of economic growth have a certain asynchrony in the scope and depth of actions at different phases of the economic cycle. The role and importance of certain non-economic factors are increased during the recession, while economic factors have a more limited impact. And vice versa - in periods of economic recovery. An adequate counter-cyclical policy of the state increases the effects of non-economic factors that play a translational (transfer) role in the economic system and give a incentive impetus to economic development.
Physical and geographical factors have a direct impact on economic growth through productivity, accumulation of capital and labor, affecting the migratory behavior of people and placement of investments, and indirect - by determining the direction of trade and development institutions. M. Gorshkov offers Netherlands, Panama, Egypt, Singapore, Estonia, Central European states as examples of countries that effectively use the transport component of their economic and geographical situation, and Turkey - its geopolitical positions for innovation and technological factor; the modern experience shows that all of the most dynamic countries have achieved a high level of competitiveness of their national economies on the basis of innovative type of society. Up to 80-90% of the annual GDP growth is achieved at the expense of the innovation sector.
The collective spiritual and psychological formations should be understood as a psychological factor that determines the moral and psychological atmosphere of public opinion, social feelings and mindset. Speaking about the institutional and political factors, the researcher notes that the political and economic spheres of society are inextricably linked and represent the interaction between the state, civil society and the individual, i.e. fundamental "determinants" of any social system.
The problem of searching the economic development model that would reflect national circumstances and the spirit of the times is relevant in contemporary Russia especially, where
the economy has ensured the growth mainly due to extensive factors for a long time. The crisis of 2008-2009 has shown that Russian society is at a new stage, at the turn of the socioeconomic development. The breakthrough to a new quality of growth is complicated by the events of 2014-2015, associated with the aggravation of the international situation in connection with the Ukrainian crisis and the adoption of anti-Russian sanctions by the West. Mobilization of non-economic factors of everyday life of Russians is happening under the external pressure, new challenges and threats, and the collective socio-psychological and volitional resources begin to perform a compensatory function of preservation the social and economic stability in the society.
M. Gorshkov writes that the given conclusion follows not only from the results of previous studies of the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, but also from the materials of the largest national sociological survey, recently conducted by researchers of the Institute during the implementation of the project of the Russian Science Foundation. The research was conducted in October -- November 2014 and it was analytical and monitoring by the character. It was aimed on revealing sustainable and changing characteristics of Russian society in the context of the new realities of time and taking into account the mutual influence of the socio-economic, political, socio-cultural and ethno-religious factors on the social situation in the country.
Assessing the direction of social changes in the country in 2014, the Russians were divided into two comparable groups of numbers, marking a change for the better (45%) and change for the worse (43%). In addition, there is an increasing polarization of views on this issue among the public that shows the growing differentiation of the real situation of the various social groups. As for the standard of living, the situation in the field of human rights and freedoms and the development of democracy as well as the fight against corruption, of law and order, then the
estimates are ambiguous: changes are assessed both positively and negatively among Russians. Finally, the negative evaluations on the dynamics of the processes prevail in the international position of the country, the situation in the social sphere, the moral condition of a society.
The main prerequisite for the return of Russia to the leading world powers for most Russians is not an aggressive foreign policy, but the solution of internal political, socioeconomic and cultural problems. In other words, the Russians believe that our country should be strengthened from the inside, ensuring the well-being and security of its citizens, in order to take a rightful place in the "major league" of world politics. In their opinion, the need to revive the high level of culture in society has acquired a special significance in solving this problem over the last decade.
The interest of Russian citizens to the events and processes of international life has grown significantly in the conditions of complicated international situation and the deterioration of relations with the West and the threat of isolation. Supporting foreign policy of the leadership of the country, the Russians are concerned about the rising tensions with the West at the same time. The mass consciousness of Russians becomes pragmatic, despite the emotional reaction to some international events. The present generation of our citizens has no illusions about the true intentions of some partners. At the same time they do not have the syndrome of a besieged fortress. The vast majority of Russians are in favor of international cooperation, which has a positive impact on life in the country. Such mindset will prevail in the near future, according to the scientist.
The author of the abstract V. Schensnovich.
