Javno mnenje u savremenom društvu - Ka kritičkoj analizi modernih političkih pojmova
Public Opinion in the Contemporary Society - Towards a Critical Analysis of Modern Political Concepts

Summary/Abstract: The problem and the concept of public opinion is a centre of interest not only for political science or social psychology but also for practical politics and economics. The author examines the origin of this phenomenon, its historical evolution and its contemporary manifestations. His standpoint is that public opinion is, by tradition, rep resented as the undetermined , uncommitted and inarticulate voice of the masses, of the crowd . In the sphere of political relations, the m asses of people were the object of government and their voice and will were sup pressed under the pressure of the ruling minority. The masses of people expressed their subordinate position in whispers and through unconscious movements rather than in a clear voice which could have affected public affairs. In this sense, public opinion was the manifestation of the will and thoughts of the subject classes. The favourite from of protest of the masses of people against their subordinate position in society was manifested though anecdotes, hum our and satire directed against the ruling class. This protest was neutralized in Ancient Rome by the slogan: panem et circenses. The great thinkers of the past did not respect public opinion because of its undetermined and spontaneous character. Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, Goethe, Hegel and others saw in public opinion the manifestation of subjectivism, which is the opposite of objective opinion.

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