REFORMS AS A FACTOR OF SOCIAL SYSTEM'S STABILITY.

               Larisa A.Pautova, Alexander K.Guts

          Omsk State University, 644077 Omsk, RUSSIA

     The problem  of  stable  society  which  is  capable of
effective function  and  development  in  the  circumstance  of
internal  and  external impacts,  without losing its structure,
has always been the distant,  but attracting goal, for the sake
of which  philosophers,  sociologists  have been creating their
theories and making different prognosis  of  the  ideal  stable
condition of the future society.
     Stability and steadiness, capacity to overcome the impacts
have been always associated with social harmony and comfort. In
the  20  century  "stability," which means capacity to preserve
conditions normal for this system,  and a tendency to  come  to
this balanced state in a case of deviations, becomes one of the
most important aspects in the theory of systems.
     Social stability is  the  result  of  functioning  of  two
mechanisms.  The  first one is the mechanism of maintaining the
stability. This is an automatic process. Stability is seen here
as the immanent condition, the infinite attribute of the system
processes  of  differentiation,  adaptation and integration are
the forces which automatically keep up stability.  They provide
system's  return  back  to  the  parameters  of balanced state.
However, stability can also be described as a result of certain
conscious,  intended activity of people,  which is aimed to get
the balance,  in the case it is not kept up automatically. This
mechanism includes   the  processes  of  socialization,  social
control,  and other different actions performed by people ,i.g.
social administration and regulation, including reformation.
     The task  of reformatories is to provide the adaptation of
external influence and overcoming of internal antagonism by the
methods  of  regulation.  Reformation  is  necessary  when  the
deviation from  the  balance  are so considerable that a system
can overcome them automatically.
     In what way do reforms provide social  stability?  Let  us
look  at  three  important  aspects.
    1) Factor   of   continuous   reforms.   As   a  result  of
enforcement,  the subjects of reformation must issue  the  most
severe laws to protect the system from disintegration. However,
the  reforms  must  be  continuous,  constant.  Even  the  most
competent  and correct reforms cannot reach their goals if they
are not permanent.  Such reforms,  carried  by  extremists  and
maximalists,   can  lead  to  bifurcation,  which  means  sharp
substantial transformation  of  system's  state.  This  is   an
unpredictable  and  destructive  process,  which  can result in
crisis and instability of the whole system.  These  conclusions
are proven in the following mathematical model.
     Let a state of social system is characterized by the level
 x(t), t > 0 of integration of structural elements which are
directed on achievment of common goals (T.Parsons), and  x > 0
is one qualitative state, and x < 0 is opposite one.  Suppose
that system dynamics is described by the differential equation

                     dx      3
                    ___  = kx  - mx + r ,                 (1)

                     dt

where k  >  0  is  intensity of efforts of every new generation
which determinate the improvement  of  society's  state,  m  is
intensity of actions of extremists,  revolutionaries which also
try to  change  and  to  improve  the  society's  state,  r  is
intensity  of  reforms  (under  r  <0  to improve the society's
state,  and r <0 to destroy the structure  of  social  system).
Assume  that  k  = const because all generations are similar in
their desires, but m is variable parameter.
     The equation (1) with two parameters m and  r  has  not  a
bifurcation under r isn't equal to 0.  If r <0 for initial x(0)
> 0 (and r >0 for initial x(0)  <  0)  then  social  system  is
developing in the time and has not qualatative changes in their
structure ( socialism remains socialism and capitalism  remains
capitalism).  This  says that reforms must restrain velocity of
development of integration's forces in society. Reforms are the
evolution, but are not the revolution.
     Under r = 0 the equation (1) has the bifurcation (when m =
0).  Hence the efforts of extremists can give unforeseen result
with changing of society's state or with preserving one.
    The perfect  examples  of such reformation can be found in
the history of the former  Soviet  Union.  Gorbatchev's  group,
trying to "improve" socialism,  brought the system to the state
of bifurcation.  The  system  has  gone through the fundamental
transformation of  its  essential  status  as   well   as   its
structure.  The  continuos  reforms (which the USSR lacked) are
beneficial for achieving the  stability.  Though  it  may  seem
strange, such reforms restrains the social integration, carried
on in  the  name  of  some  radical  goal.  By  limiting  these
processes,   the   constantly   functioning   reforms  decrease
extremists' and  revolutionaries'  activity,  and  provide  the
absence of violent social stresses and destruction.
    2) Factor of traditions andnorms continuity. The problem of
continuity of traditions in a course of reforms  is  also  very
important.   The  changes  should  not  be  only  constant  and
reserved,  but also they should be connected with the  dominant
social  traditions,  principles and values.  This continuity is
accomplished as a result of successful  socialization  process.
If a new generation acquires the norms and values, it would not
have an intention to break  up  with  them  in  the  course  of
reforms.
    Let us turn to historic examples.  In the course of English
bourgeois  revolution  all  the changes were carried on without
destroying the old tradition.  This situation made  possible  a
faster  return  to  the balance and absence of tragic outcomes.
French bourgeois revolution broke up  with  former  traditions.
Everywhere the new norms appeared,  even in the style and color
of the clothes.  Alongside with a number of other reasons, this
lead to fundamental changes in society,  which were  much  more
radical  and  more violent than in England.  The system changed
its qualitative state and it took a long time to  get  back  to
stability.
     3) Factor  of  control  over  the  mechanism  of  converse
(return) communication. The last point I would like to stop at,
is the control of  reform's  subjects  over  the  mechanism  of
converse communication in the system.
     Political authority in the course  of  reformation  should
increase  the  influence  of  negative  converse communication,
which weakens the results of system's functioning  and  provide
stability. For example, there are some economic reforms carried
on country.  If political decisions do not contradict  economic
tendencies,  this  would  lead  to  economical  increase.  When
economy is on its rise,  the  society  (subsystem  of  societal
community   -   T.   Parsons)  support  the  political  system.
Population approves  the  government's  action,  in  case  that
political  power's  actions  do not contradict social normative
order. Then, political power accomplish its main function - the
achievement of common goals,  and the system attains stability.
This is an example of negative converse communication.
    That's why the political power must assist to the action of
negative converse  communications  and  restrain  the  positive
communications.
    So the  reforms  providing  system's  return  back  to  the
parameters of balanced state must to be continuous, they should
be connected with the dominant  social  traditions,  principles
and values,  and  they must make the control over the action of
negative converse communications.