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3.4. From Totalitarianism to Social Partnership
While describing the State as the main participant in social cooperation,
it is equally important to consider the extent of authorities' awareness
of the interests of civil society and the private sector, and of the means
to satisfy mutual interests.
According to the model of "social partnership" proposed already
in the first phase of social cohesion mentioned above, the State supposedly
ceded the economic sphere to the private sector, which was given the role
of budget provider. The social sphere was given to civil society in the
role of law-abiding citizens, whereas the State itself would undertake
the functions of law enforcement and defense. The new model was considered
acceptable for Armenia's future and for donor nations and organizations.
It was proposed that all participants of social process consolidate around
the ANM. Such a "neo-Bolshevik" model of social cohesion led
to the fragmentation of both the private sector and the fledgling civil
society. Individuals and groups were divided into "friends"
and "aliens". There was a sharp discrepancy between the model
proclaimed by the State and what was put into practice. Despite proclaiming
an equal attitude toward all participants of social cooperation, the "friends"
enjoyed illegitimate privileges.
The experience of this phase suggests that participants of the social
process can succeed both in the common cause, as well as private business
only if there is mutual support. For that reason, the privatization of
large industrial enterprizes should have been accompanied by conversion
programs. Land privatization should have been carried out in parallel
with programs for the promotion of the agricultural and food processing
industries. The free flow of foreign goods into Armenia should have been
orchestrated together with programs designed to protect domestic industry.
A list of similar measures can be extended. This does not contradict the
selected model based on partnership. On the contrary, it becomes the only
real means of cooperation.
An effective and mutually acceptable means for making the transition
from totalitarianism to social cooperation is "paternalism d'etat"
(i.e. the State treats the people according to the "parent-child"
model), that is, the State delegates its functions to the private
sector and civil society when the latter are ready and able to undertake
these functions with State support.
Social cooperation enhancement mechanisms. State assistance
provides a number of social and psychological prerequisites for efficient
social cooperation. If the existing mechanism of social cooperation is
depicted graphically, then the steps taken by the participants in the
social process to achieve efficient social cooperation will become obvious.
The steps aimed at enhancing social cooperation must become a cornerstone
of State policy, which in turn will provide a number of important socio-psychological
prerequisites for efficient mutual cooperation of the parties and will:
· create certain prospects for social development, where the expectations
of the parties, the needed contributions and the envisioned results will
be defined;
· provide the transparency of motives of actions and the means of
achieving the goals, which will reduce the mutual distrust of the parties
and increase their cohesion around common goals;
· secure sustainability of human development by means of application
and improvement of social cooperation mechanisms.
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Figure 3.3. Steps Aimed at Achieving Social Cooperation
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