Original scientific paper

How Much Communality a Democracy Needs?

Darko Polšek ; Institute for applied social research, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The author reinteprets the conflicts between communitarians and liberals as a disagreement about the desirable scope of influenceo of the state in the new easteuropean democracies. Communitarianism, which emphasizes unity, is a democratic substitute for collectivism which has had a long tradition in Eastern Europe. Recent developments in Eastern Europe show that there are no preconditions for democratic communality which means that communitarian concepts contain an element of danger. The author thinks that the best alternative to the collectivist and communitarian danger in Eastern Europe is the classical utilatarian i.e. economic liberalism. Classical liberalism is the best venue for ensuring economic progress and with it, democracy.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

110812

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/110812

Publication date:

1.2.1995.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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