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THE CONCEPT OF HOMELAND

Dolf Sternberger ; Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland

Abstract

First the author discusses the distinction between the homeland and the country. Although a country is not a homeland, nevertheless the attitude of an individual to it is not a natural fact since it contains a spiritual dimension. On the other hand, the notion of the homeland – besides its political/spiritual elements – contains the natural element which makes it a given. The author investigates the attitudes that we have towards our homeland and how they can be regulated by law. He claims that only the civil constitution is the homeland constitution i.e. that there is no homeland in despotism. He then uses the example of Prussia, where the patriotic sentiments emerged without the republican institutions. The military replaced the republic, and the love for the homeland turned into the willingness to serve and sacrifice, and not into the “love of law”. The author promotes the concept of the homeland that is neither nature nor idea but a medium of our own free activity which reinforces the good. One need not serve the homeland as an underling but can manifest their love of it in an informed and free discussion among citizens about the concepts of the just and the unjust. In this way the notion of the homeland is linked not only to the written constitution but to the working constitution in which the citizens partake daily and thus amplify it.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

24928

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/24928

Publication date:

4.6.2001.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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