Criticism of the Functions of Elections in Democratic States on the Example of Discourse in the Contemporary Polish Anarchist Movement and Its Intellectual Inspirations Cover Image

Krytyka funkcji wyborów w państwach demokratycznych na przykładzie dyskursu we współczesnym polskim ruchu anarchistycznym i jego intelektualnych inspiracji
Criticism of the Functions of Elections in Democratic States on the Example of Discourse in the Contemporary Polish Anarchist Movement and Its Intellectual Inspirations

Author(s): Paweł Malendowicz
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Public Law
Published by: Kancelaria Sejmu
Keywords: democracy; anarchism; radicalism; elections; functions of elections

Summary/Abstract: Parliamentary democracy is a political system based on elections, which are held periodically and have specific functions. The most important of these are: the power-building function, the legitimising function and the representative function. However, there are social movements that negate these functions. One of them is the anarchist movement. Anarchists believe that parliamentary democracy and the state limit the freedom of human beings and social groups. That is why they are opposed to general elections. In their opinion, parliamentary democracy should be replaced by stateless societies based on direct and participatory democracy.

  • Issue Year: 177/2023
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 45-61
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: English, Polish