Niedokończony projekt nowoczesności. stare i nowe słabości demokracji reprezentacyjnej anno domini 2017
An unfinished project of modernity: Old and new weaknesses of representative democracy in 2017

Summary/Abstract: This article describes modern and historical weaknesses of representativedemocracy, as well as the ideological foundations on which its legitimization isbased. Liberal democracy is at the core of all studies and the source of reflectionsconcerning politics. Within it, one cannot help but observe a constant strugglebetween political freedoms, individual demands and social rights. The mainthesis concerns the deeply rooted conviction that a socially effective democracyrequires the synthesis of representation and participation. Elections are not the onlyelement that can pave the way for political action. They are not the only factor thatdetermines the direction that the state will take. One must also take into considerationpossible political protests, referenda, petitions, social consultations, and deprivingrepresentatives of their mandate. All these actions help define the strategy and approach used by society to put into effect its group goals and particular interests,e.g. those pertaining to a specific class, area of expertise, or worldview, understoodin a European as well as a broader, global sense. To be socially effective, democracyneeds to take into account social demands of political empowerment. The purpose ofsocial democracy is not only to create a system in which labour provides the criteriafor equal access to goods and services, but also to introduce co-governance on manylevels of societal existence. Social rights are just as important as individual freedoms:people are equal in freedom, and free thanks to fair income.

• Details
• Contents