»Ethical Democracy« or Politics? Cover Image

»Etička demokracija« ili politika?
»Ethical Democracy« or Politics?

Author(s): Marijan Krivak
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Hrvatsko Filozofsko Društvo
Keywords: paradigm of ‘liberal democracy’; liberal democratic global capitalist system; ethical democracy; multiculturalism; identity;

Summary/Abstract: This paper aims to critically assess the foundations of the globally prevailing paradigm of ‘liberal democracy’ in the world of today. Liberal democracy and its referring to ethics – most often to that of the consequentialist, or rather utilitarian type – dismiss politics as a relevant category in all reflections on reality. The post-political prohibition of all reflection (Denkverbot) on any (including the possibility of!) change in the prevailing paradigm of the liberal democratic global capitalist system demonstrates tragic consequences. An example of this is the ‘war for the establishment of democracy’ under the ‘prescriptively ethical’ imposition of the only global power of today’s world – the USA. Multiculturalism, the politics of identity… (the allegedly ethically based) humanitarian help – are the signature of the world of ‘ethical democracy’, which does not desire any real, qualitative change. The radical de-politicalisation has led us – in the name of democracy – to a ‘multicultural police’ in the form of a war against terrorism and populist fundamentalism, both of which are, in fact, the inherent products of ‘ethically correct democracy’. Paraphrasing the title of Kangrga’s famous work, with respect to the question »ethics or politics?« this paper pleads for the field of the political to be conquered anew.

  • Issue Year: 24/2004
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 130-139
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Croatian