Пустое место: демократия как политическая форма

Полития: Анализ. Хроника. Прогноз. 2016. № 2. С. 6–32.

Kaspe S. I.

Continuing with the series of articles devoted to the problematique of political form, this time S. Kaspe addresses the issue of democracy. The author believes that the emptiness of the center (in Shils’ interpretation of the term) should be considered a “stable core” of the essentially contested and therefore extensible concept (and the project), or its fundamental characteristic, which remains unchanged despite all external transformations: “No one ... can imagine herself the sole spokesman for and translator of democratic values, the sole ruler and manager of democratic institutions, the sole prophet of democratic transcendence.” The roots of this normative statement are found in the field of political theology. The main (but not the only) means of its practical implementation are separation of powers and multi-party system. It is their combined effect that makes democracy although imperfect, but still rather effective way of protection against political evil.

Keywords: демократия, политические партии, democracy, разделение властей, политическая форма, separation of powers, political parties, политическое зло, political form, political evil, autonomous subject, автономный субъект