System polityki w perspektywie teorii Luhmanna
The System of Politics in the Perspective of Luhmann's Theory

Summary/Abstract: The article presents politics in reference to Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory as a social system. In the light of Luhmann’s sociology political phenomena are results of the systems differentiation and its continuous i r r i t a t i o n from its social environment. The modern society has no center and it is functionally differentiated which means that its dynamics is determined by differentiated functional systems of economy, politics, law, science, mass media, education and others. In the paper I focus on issues which I consider especially important for the functioning of contemporary politics, like the autonomy of politics as a differentiated social system, democracy as institutionalized uncertainty, the politicization of society accompanied by a powerless state, transformation of the welfare state, political scandals and a symbiosis of politics and mass media. The paper is meant to be mainly a presentation of Luhmann’s analysis and furthermore an attempt to interpret by means of systems theory tools phenomena described in today’s political science. This requires an explanation of specific concepts like (out-)differentiation (Ausdifferenzierung), self-reproduction (Autopoiesis), operational closure, irritation, function and binary code, which are inevitable to understand Luhmann’s sociology of politics.

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