Original scientific paper
PRESENT-DAY HISTORICAL TRANSITIONS AND SOME FUNDAMENTAL OPTIONS IN THE FORMATION OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Claus Offe
; Institut društvenih znanosti Humboldtovog sveučilišta u Berlinu, Berlin, Njemačka
Abstract
In the research traditions of social and political science two central answers are being sought. The first is, what is the relationship between the specific configurations of the proponents of social changes and the particular outcomes of their activity? The other is, which changes in the configuration of the proponents lead to better results than the existing ones relative to the value criteria such as peace, feasible development, or social justice? This makes the reference framework of contemporary discussions on institutional shaping of the relations between the state and the society. In this work, the author first mentions three dominant dimensions of social change to which all of us are exposed. Second, by changing perspective, he goes over from a passive to an active approach in order to observe the actors (citizens) and the forms of their activity (civilness) that might challenge the forces of change and transform them into tolerable or even desirable outcomes. And third, he contributes to the discussion about civilness and depicts in bigger detail six fallacies that must be avoided if one wants to attain a competent configuration of activity.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
31202
URI
Publication date:
6.12.1999.
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