Conference paper
WHAT DOES THE HISTORY OF THE STATE TEACH US ABOUT ITS FUTURE?
Wolfgang Reinhard
; Historisches Seminar, Lehrstuhl fuer Neuere Geschichte, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet, Freiburg, Deutschland
Abstract
The author looks into the emergence of the modern state in the Latin Europe, its spread into the other parts of the world, its crisis and its future prospects. In Europe, the conflict between the Church and the state was central for the evolution of the state. The Latin Church inherited the politically significant legacy of the Antiquity, especially of the Roman Empire. This legacy includes the territorial principle, the idea of the service in the interest of the public good, the rule of law and not the individuals and finally, the idea of discipline or voluntary obedience. Also included is the concept of total control of owners over their property. The modern state emerged as a warrior state; however, it soon became clear that it needed the emotional mobilization. In many cases the religious identity represented a pre-phase of the national identity. This meant that the modern state was a system of faith. The Enlightenment fostered the growth of the state, but also contributed to its downfall since those who know how the state functions, cease to have faith in it. The author concludes that the state is to remain, but in a decentralized and pluralist form.
Keywords
the Church; state; modern state; nationalism; history; sovereignty; faith
Hrčak ID:
24223
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2002.
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