Mikhalov O.M. The Party Elite as a Subject of Public Policy and Management Formation. – Qualifying scientific work on the rights of the manuscript.
It has been established that the theoretical basis of the analysis of the phenomenon of the party elite is formed at the intersection of the research of the political and managerial elite and the party system. The analysis determined such generalizing characteristics of the elite as: social nature, methods of recruitment, social role, dominant methods of activity, subjectivity, objects of influence, ways of influencing and ensuring their own status, mechanisms of interaction with the environment, socio-economic determinants and activities, their value bases.
Analysis of the peculiarities of the party system made it possible to identify specific species characteristics of the party elite. They are: organizing role of a political party with a minimum degree of formalization; high level of value and ideological consolidation of the party elite; concentration of its subjectivity in the party’s management, in particular with regard to the functions of its external representation; a very large role of corporate-group interest in combination with the declaration of values of the “public welfare”; indirect dependence on society and civic institutions; the prevalence of “shadow structures” and greater dynamism of relationships with social structures; limited institutional mechanisms for ensuring one’s own dominance and, accordingly, a greater role for communication and belief mechanisms; belonging to the main resource and mechanism of formation of political and state elites and, accordingly, the subjects of “exchange” of activities and organizations with the political and state elite.
Conceptual approaches and methodological bases of research of subjectivity of party elite in the process of formation of public policy and management have been defined. The crucial point is that in the transition period, which is characterized by increased dynamism, theoretical tools are needed, the invariance of which makes it possible to make predictions and decisions in the long run. Since complex social objects, including the party elite, in the dynamics of development can be studied only through the processes of system modelling, this approach is defined as the basis for the formation of research methodology.
The notion of party elite as a part of the elite that self-organizes civil society in the process of interaction with state institutions through the sphere of public policy within the party system based on uniting citizens around strategic goals, ideology consistent with the interests of society and the state has been developed.
It has been substantiated that the main purpose of the party elite is to determine the conceptual directions, goals and objectives based on the interests of civil society and its components, organization and management of processes to achieve them. The subjectivity of the party elite is proposed to be considered a systemic set of properties that shapes its ability in society in the form of certain goals and objectives to perform an organizing and consolidating role in shaping public policy based on the interests of civil society. Such a functional imperative has the character of management, because the management process is the activity of the subject to change the object to achieve a certain goal.
The author’s model of the party elite subjectivity in the field of public policy and management has been developed using a system-model approach, which includes in a single system, factors, functions, structural interdependencies of components and directions of the party elite subjectivity in public sphere.
The main directions of realization of the party elite subjectivity in the field of public policy and management through the mechanisms of institutionalization have been determined. Practical recommendations have been reasoned for the creation of appropriate institutions and institutions, the system of which creates a holistic subject of activity – the “party elite” with its inherent properties: the ability to generate, organize, manage. The substantiation of the model of organizing the activities of the party elite as a public entity with two hierarchical levels is also practical. The first level consists of regional party communities with targeted settings of activity adapted to regional needs; at the second level, an integral party elite union is created, which performs the functions of goal-setting, coordination, adjustment and control.
The factors influencing the subjective activity of the party elite have been singled out: spiritual, axiological, intellectual, rational thinking, social activity, initiative, as well as the optimal ratio of individualistic and collectivistic principles.
Key words: public management; public policy; party elite; modelling; system approach; institutionalization; leadership; civic initiatives; recruitment; ideology.
