Demarcation between State and Party Ideologies

The article examines the role and status of state and party ideologies within the system of sociopolitical relations. Highlighting the polysemy of the concept of “ideology,” the study traces its evolution from Antoine Destutt de Tracy’s original “science of ideas” through the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, Antonio Gramsci, Karl Mannheim, Louis Althusser, and Clifford Geertz, to contemporary interpretations. The author delineates the specific meanings of ideology as applied to state and party spheres of activity. It is demonstrated that ideologies are grounded in political theory, which serves as the basis for forming political ideals, value systems, and norms of behavior for political actors. The study reveals the axiological character of ideologies and their connection to the concept of the good as an overarching designation of social and political ideals. Ideology is shown to arise from public consensus regarding values and norms; this reflects the active nature of human beings, involving not only the cognition of social regularities but also their normative evaluation in the context of societal development goals. The concept of state ideology is defined here as a system of the state's self-definition regarding its purpose and goals – a system that exists regardless of official status or formal codification. A legitimate state ideology, rooted in public consensus, ensures state stability and effective strategic development. A fundamental distinction is drawn between state and party ideologies in terms of actors, goals, and functions: while party ideologies are particularistic and express the interests of specific groups, state ideology aims at social consolidation. Noting the recent resurgence of interest in the issue of state ideology, the article analyzes various constitutional provisions concerning the public and legal status of ideologies. Finally, the author outlines pathways for forming a state ideology while preserving ideological diversity within civil society, arguing that this model aligns with an understanding of politics as a space for reconciling diverse social interests in pursuit of the common good.

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