THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATIC STATE INTO THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATE Cover Image

Preobrazba demokratske zakonodavane države u ustavnu državu
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATIC STATE INTO THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATE

Author(s): Davor Rodin
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Fakultet političkih znanosti u Zagrebu

Summary/Abstract: The author analyses Schmitt’s and Luhmann’s theory of democracy and the constitutional state. By comparing them, he concludes that Schmitt’s critique of the democratic pluralistic state has ended in the theory of direct or plebiscitary democracy in which the constitution is subject to an unpredictable will of political majority which can change it wilfully in line with the power relations. Luhmann, on the other hand, starts from the assumption of the separation between law and politics and builds his concept of the constitutional state on the bipolar differentiation and the mutual checks between law and politics. The author concludes that Luhmann does not give up on Hobbes’ pessimistic conviction that human nature is bestial; he only offers a different strategy for the coexistence of cultured savages.

  • Issue Year: XXXIV/1997
  • Issue No: 04
  • Page Range: 45-67
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Croatian