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5.Максимова Т.М. Современное состояние, тенденции и перспективные оценки здоровья населения. М. 2002. 187 с.
6.Перечень поручений по итогам совещания о мерах по снижению потребления алкоголя от 11 сентября 2009 года. URL: www.alkopolitika.ru/index.php?q=president (дата обращения: 05.09.2013).
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PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS MEASURES OF STATE POLICY ON REGULATION
OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
E.M. Berestova
Perm State National Research University
This paper addresses the problem of people's attitudes toward alcoholcontrol efforts at the regional and federal levels. Identified priority areas for alcohol policy, and evaluated their effectiveness.
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УДК 364.016
МАРКСИЗМ И НЕОЛИБЕРАЛИЗМ СЕГОДНЯ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНИИ)
М.И. Блинова
Пермский государственный национальный исследовательский университет
В настоящее время в Соединенном Королевстве усиливается неудовлетворенность политикой нео-либерализма, в то время как одновременно ищутся новые пути развития. Возможный «третий путь» отличается и от либерализма и от социализма, соединяя положительные стороны обоих.
Today we can find the different and general provisions of the two theories: Marxism and neo-liberalism. Probably, it sounds very strange, due to a negative preconceives of Marxism, communism and the whole Soviet Union, as a significant opponent of the U.S. [15], and therefore, the entire Western world [4].
As I study sociology, I decided to make a focus on the basic theories that lay as a background not only in the framework of social work and social care or the forms of its organization, but mostly as a way to think, as a philosophy of life. And I tried to appeal to the deeper layers of everyday life, political decisions and, possibly, the values that are structured with them and provide mainstream of development.
So, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Marxism was almost «buried» [14]. It was announced that it was insolvent, and capitalism, liberalism, and later on neoliberalism in Russia, has come to be seen as the only one true and, moreover, possible way of development.
But in recent years, criticism of neoliberalism is increasing. Globalization becomes stronger and gets into all spheres [3], and the concept of modern world has no answer for the questions of migration, unemployment, inflation, some sorts of benefits for poor people and increasing number of inter-ethnic conflicts. In society there are
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new sections of the population is appeared, they were not identified in the classic factors such as income, status and power, but with ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities and so on.
Due to the latest world events, in particular, economic crisis of 2008–2011, many new problems are emerged, as all aspects of society in one way or another connected with the economy. Until now, we can see the sad consequences of reduced public funding of the social sphere, folding projects supporting the population, cut pensions, benefits and other payments. This can be most clearly seen in Greece [8].
Sociologist A. Touraine says [16] Europe only shows the economic, political and cultural inconsistency, but this is not a consequence of the crisis, and, moreover, the crisis appears more like a finale, the most impressive result of deeper problems hidden in government regulation of these countries.
Hyperbolization some of the main features of each direction, in any case, is a disadvantage. Liberalism has strongly provided freedom, initiative and support entrepreneurship to everyone, but in this it avoids people with different disabilities, mental or physical. Socialism, which was presented in the Soviet Union, tried to be focused on everyone, but trying to keep the lower strata, the government had had to set a restrictions for higher ones, equalize everyone and close all possibilities for people who want to gain more than others. Many really successful, talented persons with great intellectual potential were persecuted, deported or detained, or had to hide it from the authorities.
It could be said: these are the two opposing conceptions, the two ways of looking at the problem of development and the sources of development, two approaches to organize a social life and all its components. However, this doesn‘t mean that they are mutually exclusive: they have common elements. And after all, they both seek to create a comfortable life for the whole society, all people and each person.
Within modern processes of today, it should be noted that part of the European Union, as well as the United States, are in a rather difficult position, when the values of the market economy provoke irrepressible consumption, pursuit of wealth and diligent ignoring problems of the Third World. Because of the enormous strain on the
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planet resources, humanity has already faced with problems of climate changing, ice caps melting, extinction of animals and depletion of drinking water. Life in underdeveloped countries is more resemble of ultimate survival and the transfer of factories from developed countries and allegedly creating jobs actually makes them dependent and will of others dictates them how to act. Summing up, these countries of so-called Golden Billion concentrate in their hands most of the resources of the planet [5], spend it mindlessly and live their lives without refuse to anything.
Of course, states and civil society reflect, discuss and take some actions to improve the lives of whole world and specially of Third Worlds countries, but as Bill Jordan says [11]: «The external forces shaping the interactions between practitioners and service users are all more influential because they are usually unquestioned; our organizations and cultures ―do our thinking of us‖». In other words, the conception of liberalism and neoliberalism tells «How we should ask questions, about what topics, when and to whom» and «How we should answer them».
We can‘t say the same about the Scandinavian countries. They have achieved very good results in social protection of its population. However, the downside of this is their some isolation from the rest of the world, low participation in global processes and integration into the world culture. In a sense, they have implemented the principles of socialism Marx wrote about: «Welfare State» for everyone. Although the Scandinavians hybrid economic model and high standards of living is not a panacea for the shortcomings of capitalism. Zh. Butkus (editor in chief of the Marxist publication of «Lefkada» and associate editor of the «Liberal Russia») says [1]: «Anyone who hasn‘t eaten too many hallucinogenic reformism, understands that the hybrid model is short-lived and has a dead end. Compatibility of state and private sectors is only an illusion that disappears when different nature of these two sectors is found. There is no middle ground between socialism and capitalism». It‘s means: if it‘s bourgeoisie in country, it inevitably has its own interests, which in one form or another are beginning to be different from the interests of the state (if the state acts in the interests of the population, of course) and eventually necessarily begins to grow, as the main goal of the capitalist is to earn more income.
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UK can not be attributed to the countries, which are chasing an incredible profit, as well as to the countries, which are slowly but surely move towards socialism. UK provides its own way. Firstly, Britain came under the influence of neo-liberal ideas. It was believed, there was no other alternative, except a market, and therefore, values of social work transformed from «social justice and equality» to «value for money», as Ferguson mention [7] in his paper, but then the so-called «Third Way» appeared. It‘s essentially an alternative to the Right and Left: it «taking the best from both traditions and concerned with only ―what works‖» [7].
For example, one of the main theories of contemporary social work in UK, which has strongly developed, is empowerment. It means the protection against social discrimination, based on the exclusion from public life such categories of people, as disabled people, ethnicity, religion minority and others. This theory provides opportunities for marginalized people: they can improve status with their own resources or with out-coming resources of community or state. Empowerment also includes encouraging and developing skills for successful integration into society.
But what can we say about UK politics in past according to contemporary situation? National Institute for Social Work noted at the beginning of 90s that new course in approach is a positive for social work. For instance, program «Sure Start» is provided for children «―the best possible start in life‖ through improvement of childcare, early education, health and family support, with an emphasis on outreach and community development» [13]. «But over last two years funding for children‘s centers in England has been cut by a third» [9], according to The Guardian figures.
Moreover, at the same The Guardian we can find the article [6] about by sweeping cuts to services for disabled people: «No carer to help at home, no ESA to replace your lost income, no car to get about and no support to stay in your own home. What might have been manageable becomes the most terrible, frightening scenario possible. Without these vital elements of your life, you are left with nothing; bedridden, housebound, isolated and living in crushing poverty. Add in cuts to housing benefit and the NHS, and it doesn‘t take much imagination to see that the results could be devastating».
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According whit this, it could be said that, on the one hand, there were many services for all marginalized people; but on the other hand, nowadays these services are changing into commercial ones. So, as you can see, the current situation in UK is quite complex. The looming crisis of consuming force to look for alternative ways of development. And in my view, there comes a time when the need to recall the dialectics of Hegel: I mean, the time to take best points of each theories, put it together and create something new as UK did. Of course, it will be very difficult and complicated but it worth for it.
So, as you can see, the current situation in the world arena is quite complex. The looming crisis of consuming force to look for alternative ways of development. And in my view, there comes a time when the need to recall the dialectics of Hegel: I mean, the time to take best points of each theories, put it together and create something new. Of course, it will be much more difficult and complicated but it worth for it.
Well, as far as liberalism and neoliberalism are now most widespread, let pay attention on some of the most general provisions, for which it‘s criticized.
Russian sociologist Lavrov outlined [10] four basic positions:
1.The main lack of neo-classical economic thought − the weakening of attention to the social problems of the modern countries, including developed ones. Incorporating social effects of various economic reforms and crisis.
2.Second, need for a more subtle approach to the relations of production and exchange of goods. On the one hand, exchange creates their own patterns, on the other − they mask production relations. Too large gap in analysis of production and exchange can generate misconceptions about their real correlation in system.
3.Third, the most important postulate of the neoclassical school is the position that in a private property market spontaneously, through the «invisible hand», according to Smith, is committed to the balanced development of the national economy. And if at any time there is an imbalance in the economy, the competition takes place by means of transfer of capital from over capitalized sector to low capitalized.
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But as we know, classes, in whose hands is the most of the capital, prefer to put into circulation only a part of their wealth, thereby increasing inequality and social tension.
4. And finally fourth, the neoclassical economic theory mistakenly considers the modern community in a market economy as a homogeneous society in which there are no classes. And reality tells us nowadays there are much more factors for distinguish classes than before.
Lavrov noticed that «In today‘s economy… greatly increased the role of human capital» [10].
We can also refer to Sue Penna and Marin O‘Brien and their investigation of Hayek‘s neo-liberalism. So, «Friedrich von Hayek has to be acknowledged as a leading force in the development of neoliberal theory» [12]. He was a staunch positivist, he reject macroeconomical processes and pay a big attention to institute of market, family and personal choice. The development in neoliberal economy is possible through the cultural adaptation, which takes a competition form. In a sense, this is a social and economic alternative to natural selection and survival of the fittest. But we shouldn‘t forget what we, humans, are different from animals: it‘s our ability to empathize, support, take care and responsibility for those who are weaker.
Hayek is based on the individual, forgetting that the whole society is more than a private economic choice. And by the rules of synergetic, whole, composed of parts, always gives more effects than the simple sum of the effects of its parts. Guess, today it‘s an indisputable truth or axiom.
So, Hayek‘s neoliberalism is based [12] on «market moral», «invisible hand» that doesn‘t belong to anyone and shifting focus to research such things as «the ―demand side‖ of the political market and the ―supply side‖ of bureaucracies». In other words, all institutes of society are regarded as market.
It would be unfair not to mention that in the neoliberal society there are mechanisms to support the lower strata of the population and some mechanisms that don‘t allow the upper layers to slide down. But here a government faced with problems such us the unemployed, single mothers, disabled people, migrants, etc. Chernomorova, the Russian sociologist, said: «Overly broad social benefits
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provided by the welfare state to its citizens in recent years… require continuous increase the cost of state social programs» [2].
Human capital acquired a very great significance. It‘s recognized that investment in it has the biggest impact in future. All states, which are interested in the long-term development, have to handle huge financial obligations for its maintenance. Of course, state can‘t handle all engagements, so, to avoid under-funding of projects or its parties, the government has to reform the system of social services, including sources of funding, with using charities and private commercial sector.
To my mind, this is where the government should turn to the philosophy of Marxism. As an example, in USSR it was a great shame when you were called a hanger-on. It was a very great disgrace and infamy to be freeloader, unemployed. Society censured such behavior. And a love to hard, honesty working, integrity, mutual helping are instilled in childhood through labor camps, students gatherings, where young people helped for free collective farms (kolkhoz‘s) to planting, care and harvesting.
So, this is where the integration of socialist values is possible. I mean, it‘s normal that people want to live better life and improve their status, but the most important the way they do it. If everyone is going to live as if it‘s no tomorrow, so it‘s no tomorrow.
The values of Marx‘s socialism taught us in the first instance of collective responsibility, id est responsibility to each other. This means that developed countries don‘t have the right to place a hazardous industry in the countries of the Third World; regular users won‘t buy a new phone model, simply because it‘s trendy and majority won‘t discriminate against minority just because of a different color of hair, skin or another worldview.
The most important distinguishing feature − a priority of collective ownership over private ownership. But maybe it‘s the abstract view on individual positioning: yes, you have your private property but it doesn‘t belong to you because you are better then others in all points. You came to this world without anything and you‘ll leave in the same way. Our life, I believe, is too short to spend it in rush, compete and create huge amounts of capital, which you most likely don‘t even use, when you have the knowledge that somewhere child-
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ren are starving, somewhere is domestic violence happens and somewhere is not enough blankets or medication.
I think, mankind needs to move away from the concept of consumerism; need to introduce other human values, where the most important thing is not the thickness of the purse but personal qualities.
Even if it sounds a bit utopian but what is the ideal, if it‘s not a landmark, as a lighthouse, for the development?
References
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15.07.2013).
14.The collapse of the Soviet Union began when the ideology of MarxismLeninism became a cover. URL: http://ria.ru/study_ussr/20130722/951339691.html#13758656642213& message=resize&relto=register&action=addClass&value=registration (date of use: 07.08.2013).
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MARXISM AND NEOLIBERALISM TODAY (IN EXAMPLE OF UNITED KINGDOM)
M.I. Blinova
Perm, Perm State National Research University
At the present stage in the UK is growing dissatisfaction with the policies of neo-liberalism, while simultaneously developing new ways are sought. Possible Third Way differs from both liberalism and from socialism, combining the positive aspects of both.
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