"Political Catechism" from Alexander Privalov

In No. 1 of "Expert" for 2004, with a kind of manifesto for a new right-wing party in Russia, the need for which is actively discussed after the failure of the SPS and Yabloko in the parliamentary elections. Alexander Privalov spoke

In the final part of his article "Sketches for a Political Catechism" entitled "What Ideas Can a Party of the Right Put Up?" , he, firstly, clearly defines what kind of "right party" he would like to see: a party that sets as its goal the solution of the problem of "combining, conjugating, harmoniously combining the idea of ​​Russia with the idea of ​​freedom" .

The author offers a possible list of non-economic ideas that such a party (he conventionally calls it "LKPR" - "the liberal-conservative party of Russia") could put forward.

Firstly, "the priority of freedom over equality. Of course, we are not talking about a binary choice ("zero" equality - "one" freedom). We are talking about a dynamic balance of freedom and responsibility, rights and obligations. In the utmost simplification, this looks, for example , so: you are free to take, if you have enough strength for it, more and more rights - but with rights you take on duties; you are responsible to the full extent of your freedom - and therefore free exactly to the extent of your responsibility " .

Secondly, A. Privalov considers it necessary to stop "ritual squats around the famous human rights. A "man in general" does not have any rights in this world from birth, except perhaps the right to someday die. " He believes that "each individual person, through his work and creativity, and to a certain extent also through the work and creativity of his ancestors, personally earns his own scope of rights . " Based on this, the author considers it acceptable even to establish electoral qualifications. At the same time, "society is obliged to guarantee a certain equal set of rights to each of its members. This set, even in a prosperous country, should be very moderate (although the principle of equality before the law is necessarily attached to it)" .

Thirdly, it is proposed to consider "the organic development of society as a whole" (including, among other things, social inequality, "if it is not excessive") as a "value of a very high order". “Hence the emphasis on the entire system of national traditions, starting, of course, with religion. The role of religion in the life of the country is very significant. Whether an individual has personal religiosity or not, he is obliged to duly respect the significance of traditional faith. the presence of the same unchanging, unshakable ("it did not begin with us, it will not end with us") foundations of the social structure. Only on this foundation the framework of the state stands securely - universal respect for law, law, legitimacy - and, as a result, for power " .

Fourthly, the authorities must respect the law and unconditionally "be aware of their limits" , and society as a whole and the hypothetical right-wing party are obliged to take adequate measures "against the eternal danger of the emergence of tyranny ". To solve this problem, it is necessary to achieve a clear separation of powers.

In addition, thesis A. Privalov outlines some more principles that the newly created right-wing party should uphold: "the impossibility of freedom (and any good order in the country) without private property; unconditional adherence to national interests (for example, recognition of international organizations strictly in that the extent to which it is beneficial to Russia) "...

The list, according to the author, remains open, and readers are invited to discuss it.

Privalov Alexander. Sketches for a political catechism // Expert. 2004. No. 1. pp. 86-89.