Moralės dimensija politinėje kultūroje
Moral Dimension in Political Culture

Summary/Abstract: Ideological basics of politics include, next to economic, social and cultural ideas, moral principles. They help to ensure the harmony of communal ideas and imbue the political practice with meaning. A debate on moral theory and its implementation at different levels have been taking place for a long time and is still acute. Political, economic, social, and cultural changes, which are evident in a democratic state, influence the development of political culture. The level of moral perception affects political consciousness and practical politics as well as characterizes the level of political culture. Compatibility of politics and morality is as important as the issue of social consensus. In democratic, free societies, which tolerate the clash of different moral beliefs, the controversy concerning the morality of politics is rather considerable, and the relationship between morality and politics is complicated. The awareness of the processes of state politics and social morality is constantly accompanied by the controversy between social politics and communal welfare. Consequently, the relationship between politics and morality is an inalienable part of political culture. Taking into consideration theoretical discussions concerning the role of morality in the history of politics, attitudes towards the relationship between politics and morality used to be and still are varied and dynamic. At some historical periods the conception of moral politics seemed to be clear, i. e. it was the variant of the balance between morality and politics, and in the course of history there were many attempts to achieve and maintain this balance. Some theoreticians consider morality to be more important in any society’s life while others give priority to politics. In both cases, the relationship between morality and politics is emphasized. However, in this respect the principle of morality is often rejected, and preference is given to politics as it is identified with a state’s welfare and an individual’s freedoms. Democracy and pluralism proved that there might be considerable disagreements over moral principles, the ways of their realization, or vice versa. Cooperation and social partnership, citizens’ solidarity to achieve common goals, concern and responsibility for their state’s future are the features which characterize a mature civic society. In any democratic society, morality is an integral part of political culture which both influences political culture and, at the same time, is influenced by it. Various connections between morality and politics help to mobilize and integrate society as well as to realize an individual’s identity.

• Details
• Contents