Original scientific paper
Modus Vivendi: Concept of Coexistence in Pluralist Global Society
Hrvoje Cvijanović
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Modus Vivendi is Gray’s political concept which he links to
Hobbes’ political theory whose purpose is to temporarily establish the
coexistence of intransigent sides i.e. ways of life. In other words, modus
vivendi is a solution aimed at limiting the scope of political insecurity
in plural societies by providing the minimal content of coexistence.
As this is offered as a potential solution for contemporary societies
marked by value-pluralist conflicts, the author looks into the
viability of the modus vivendi concept of coexistence. The fact is that
modus vivendi has been criticized as a concept generating the problems
it does not provide answers to, such as the issue of stability and
morality/justice. In Hobbes’ traditional interpretation which Gray
adopted, these are not the questions that the pluralist modus vivendi
approach should provide answers to. The author, however, has
adopted the argument according to which Hobbes and Rawls insist on
an immediate political goal i.e. stability (peace) and justice. If Gray’s
modus vivendi does not consistently follow such an argument, it
emerges as a concept of coexistence that will not satisfy anyone.
However, due to the lack of moral solidarity contingent to the consensual
approach to political reality, modus vivendi is a concept offering
the minimum’s minimum because we are not willing to accept
something more.
Keywords
modus vivendi; coexistence; Gray; Hobbes; postliberalism; pluralism; Rawls
Hrčak ID:
20107
URI
Publication date:
31.5.2007.
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