Original scientific paper

POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE PUBLIC GOOD

Zvonko Posavec ; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The author looks into the relationship between political parties and the public good. He begins by asking whether it is legally possible to compel parties to work for the public good. It seems it is not since in democracy there are no criteria that might a priori be established as the binding norms. The public good, namely, depends on the fundamental constitutional solutions and the general political culture. In line with this, the author goes on to depict the model of the monarchical state. According to this model, the public interest may be derived “from above” i.e. the public interest is a result of the emanations of the “exalted” state authority. In modern democracy, however, it is not possible to shape the general will without parties, organizations more committed to their own interests than those of their political community on the whole. In a way, parties represent a danger for this democracy and the entire political community. The author asks: how, if at all, can we resolve this dilemma? Referring to Scheuner, Hesse, Emke, Habermas and Häberle, the author finds the answer in the postulate that the promotion of the public interest cannot be left solely to the state, but that all members of a political community should get involved. Parties in the contemporary pluralist culture ought to become aware that their primary task is the public good that is not in the function of party life.

Keywords

state; public good; monarchy; parliamentary democracy; political parties; constitution

Hrčak ID:

23127

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/23127

Publication date:

26.1.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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