6.2. A Typology of the Political Process

Political processes in the political science literature are classified according to various criteria.
Depending on the object in which political will is manifested, they are divided into domestic and foreign policy processes.
• Thus, domestic political processes depend on the form of government and the state structure of the country, the ruling elite, the type of leadership, and so on. The foundation of the domestic political process of any country is the relationship between socio-economic mechanisms, the social structure of society, and the degree to which the population is satisfied with its situation.
• Foreign policy processes are determined by the socio-economic nature, interests and goals of the state, the balance of power in the world and in specific regions, etc.
Depending on the duration of their course, political processes are distinguished as long-term, for example the transition from a totalitarian to a democratic regime, and comparatively short-term, for example elections.
Depending on their significance for society, political processes can be divided into basic and peripheral.
• Basic processes involve various ways of including broad strata of the population (directly or through representative bodies - parties, movements, etc.) in political relations with the state regarding the implementation of various socio-political issues. Basic political processes can be called those as a result of which political decisions are made that affect the interests of large social communities, society as a whole, or processes aimed at the development and change of the political system.
• Peripheral political processes may develop at the regional or local level of socio-political interaction: they may reveal the dynamics of the formation of individual political associations (parties, blocs, pressure groups, etc.).
From the standpoint of the publicity of their course, one distinguishes between the overt (open) and covert (shadow) political process.
• The overt process is characterized by the fact that the interests of groups and citizens find their way into party and movement programmes, into the use of the media to discuss socially significant issues, and so on. A political rally demanding the resignation of the government is an overt (open) process. A government decision to raise import duty rates on imported goods is also an open process.
• The shadow process consists of the concealed actions of state institutions, especially those with secret functions, for example, intelligence. Lobbying for some law in the very highest legislative body of the state is a covert (shadow) process. In the political systems of a number of countries there is even a concept known as the «shadow cabinet». This is a group of influential persons (part of the political elite) who do not hold official state positions, but whose opinion significantly influences the adoption of political decisions.
Depending on their scale, the following types of political processes are distinguished:

• - everyday political processes, in which minor actors participate through the direct actions of individuals, groups and, in part, institutions;
• - historical political processes, connected with the realization of some historical event, in which large actors take part;
• - evolutionary political processes, in which large actors of politics (institutions of the political system) take part. They last a long time. Modernization of the political system and the democratization of post-totalitarian societies belong to this type.

In the political life of society there occur political processes that possess their own rhythm or recurrence of the main stages of interaction among their subjects, institutions and participants. For example, an election campaign, a government report to parliament, the adoption of a budget, and so on.