Upotreba i razumevanja koncepta „četvrta vlast”
The Usage and Understanding of the Concept of “Fourth Power”

Summary/Abstract: This paper is primarily focused on the discourse analysis the usage of the concept “fourth power” in the contemporary domestic scientific and pro fessional literature in the context of discussing the system of separation and control of powers, as well as on the analysis of competitive meanings that this term takes on in various usages. Following analysis of content and connotation of the “fourth power” concept, an individual examination of meanings of concepts “independent public bodies”, “the media” and “civil society” when used as synonyms for “fourth power” will be conducted. This paper argues that, in spite of the seemingly diverse usages of “fourth power” in public discourse, this concept remains determined by common characte ristics in each usage, implying the deeper connection between the observed concepts that are used as synonyms for “fourth power” in the public disco urse. Common characteristics are identified through analysis of meaning, purposes and the context of usage of relevant concepts, as well as through the usage of an adapted method of historical logic of question and answer. author concludes that all of the analyzed usages of the “fourth power” con cept represent an answer to the same group of questions, or reflect a result of the search for solution of a existing sociopolitical issue in form of democratic control shortcomings.

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