What Confers Political Legitimacy in a Modern Society?

2021 ◽  
pp. 262-279
Author(s):  
Martin Wight
Keyword(s):  
Political Legitimacy ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Parliamentary Democracy ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
Robin Hood ◽  
State Bureaucracy ◽  
The Individual

In this essay Wight considered several sources of legitimacy for a modern Western society. A well-functioning state bureaucracy is a necessity. Popular consultation involving the consent of the governed is also essential. In Britain elective parliamentary democracy meets this need. Citizens must agree on the principle of respecting current laws pending their revision through legal channels. A new authoritative source of legitimacy may replace an old one if citizens transfer their loyalty to it. Time may either heal the injured and legitimate the results of social conflicts or exacerbate antagonisms. Communist regimes and right-wing autocrats such as General Franco in Spain and the Shah of Iran appealed to a principle of ‘legitimation by success’. Other legitimation myths have included ‘childhood ideas of Robin Hood’, ‘the siege’, and ‘the pilgrimage’, but the most fundamental source of legitimacy resides in the blood shed for a society’s independence and the rebirth of its great founding principles. This bloodshed justifies the society’s rededication to pursuing its unfinished work. An opposing question concerns the individual dissenter’s political legitimacy, which must hinge on certain criteria (such as rationality and conscientiousness) to win moral respect. The ‘rationalist illusion’ supposes that citizens can be critical spectators in the proceedings of their own society and its politics. Such detachment is not attainable, and derives from the fallacy that political life can be reduced to the conscious and purposeful management of material needs.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ РОССИЙСКОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО КАК ПРОСТРАНСТВО КОНФЛИКТА

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
V. V. Gorshkova ◽  
A. A. Melnikova
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
Social Structure ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
The Social ◽  
Modern Russian

The article considers the contradictions and conflicts that are characteristic of modern Russian society. The processes of social disintegration are analyzed and interpreted as a result of fundamental social and economic transformations. The problems of economic inequality are presented in the historical perspective in close connection with the previous stages of Russia's socioeconomic development. Significant polarization of the population is one of the most significant conflict factors in modern society, which leads to an increase in protest moods and may in the long term threaten social upheavals. Nevertheless, dissatisfaction with the socio-economic situation does not lead to ideas of the unification and consolidation of society, but find expression in social conflicts. The emergence and development of social conflicts is influenced by a number of factors: economic, ethnic, religious. One of the most important characteristics of society is its social structure. After the collapse of the USSR, the previous social structure was abolished, and a new social reality was formed in Russia. When considering the stratification structure of society, most attention is paid to the middle class, which is considered the backbone of a stable society. The middle class in Russia is in the stage of formation, it is hardly possible to speak of a complete analogy with the middle class of Western society. The share of middle class in society can be estimated in different ways depending on the methodological approaches used by researchers. An important consequence of the transformation of the social structure was the problem of marginalization, since the dismantling of the old social structure and the slow formation of the new one put the social status and place in the division of labor system of many individuals into question. The sharp impoverishment of representatives of prestigious professions led to a reassessment of their situation, especially for the younger generation. When analyzing the origins of social conflicts in modern Russian society, it is necessary to consider the issue of the attitude of the broad masses of the population to power and national elites. It should be noted that power in Russia historically takes shape around specific leaders and does not have an institutional character. The most significant factor shaping the attitude towards the authorities and the elite in general in Russian society are the economic results of the market reforms that have taken place. Only a small part of the population believes that they won as a result of the changes that have taken place, the natural consequence of which is the population's distrust of the authorities and, in general, political institutions.

scholarly journals Research of the Nutrition Problem: Methodological Approaches and Daily Practices

2014 ◽  
pp. 209-218
Author(s):  
A. V. Noskova
Keyword(s):  
Modern Society ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Actual Problem ◽  
Social Transformations ◽  
Nutrition Research ◽  
Nutrition Practices ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Nutrition Problem ◽  
Sociology Of Food

The article analyzes some scientific approaches to nutrition research and current nutrition practices for students of two Moscow Universities. The author notes that the necessity for scientific studying of food has been understood at the end of the XIX - the beginning of the XX centuries. In the article the social context of three directions of researches of a nutrition problem is analyzed: natural-scientific, ethnographic and sociological. The answer to a question why the healthy nutrition for modern society is an actual problem is given. It is shown that modern social transformations have changed sociocultural regulation of nutrition consumption. The variety of scientific approaches to food is revealed: a food as a factor of physical health, a food as an ethnocultural tradition, a food as a social habit and marker of the social status of the individual. The special emphasis is made on the European sociology of food. In the last thirty years in this area, some special sociological theories were formed: sociology of nutrition, sociology of food, sociology of menu, etc. Consumer abundance in modern western society changed a view of sociologists on essence and functions of food. New social factors give now more pressure on the nutrition practices. Based on food diaries and essays of 60 Moscow students, the author's project shows and analyzes the current nutrition practices of youth. The analysis of some peculiarities in the youth choice of food is made. The influence of social/dietary/religious norms on food behavior of students is shown. Value of "healthy food" in youth interpretation is shown. In the end of the article, the author notes the dialectics of freedom / social pressure for nutrition practices of modern youth.

Geloof als innerlijke keuze: Over de kerkelijke, religieuze en maatschappelijke implicaties van individualisering

2014 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-193
Author(s):  
Sipco Vellenga
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Cultural Patterns ◽  
Freedom Of Choice ◽  
Church Decline ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Late Modern ◽  
Contemporary Western Society

Individualization is one of the basic traits of contemporary Western society. How are church and religion related to this trend? After defining individualization as a process in which people become more independent of their immediate environment, as well as of related traditional cultural patterns, values and norms, this article focuses on the consequences of individualization for church and religion. Individualization is seen to have three ecclesiastical implications: church individualization, increasing church mobility and church decline, as well as three religious implications: religious individualization, increasing religious mobility and an increase of the popularity of atheism. It is argued that individualization entails at least three social paradoxes: more freedom of choice but also a heavier burden upon the individual to make choices, less social restrictions but also a weakening of the sense of safety and belonging, and more informal ways of social behavior, but also social coarsening. Churches and religions which fully incorporate the positive aspects of individualization and at the same time clearly meet its negative aspects will have chances to flourish in late modern society.

scholarly journals Features of Interaction Between the State and Civil Society in the Context of the Philosophy of Law

wisdom ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-119
Author(s):  
Lilit KAZANCHIAN
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The State ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Philosophy Of Law ◽  
Common Interests ◽  
Legitimate Interests ◽  
Fundamental Rights And Freedoms ◽  
The Individual

The article explores the notion and peculiarities of concept of “civil society” in the modern, legal state. In the given research the author implements holistic, systematical (methodical) analysis of peculiarities of the relationship between the state and society. Therefore, the theoretical and practical research of problems of development of relation between civil society and the state gives an opportunity to find new solutions in problems of cooperation of individual and common interests. Moreover, study is also focusing on various approaches of well-known jurists on the essence, content and legislative consolidation of the civil society. The author comes to conclusion that in recent decades, the philosophy of law took under its active protection the civil society, where the harmonious combination of rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of the person should correspond to public interests. Therefore, the theoretical and practical analysis of interactions between the state and civil society gives an opportunity to find new solutions in problems occurred in modern society. Key words: civil society, democratic legal state, fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, government, citizen, organizations, institutions, political life.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ РОССИЙСКОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО КАК ПРОСТРАНСТВО КОНФЛИКТА

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
V. V. Gorshkova ◽  
A. A. Melnikova
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
Social Structure ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Russian Society ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
The Social ◽  
Modern Russian

The article considers the contradictions and conflicts that are characteristic of modern Russian society. The processes of social disintegration are analyzed and interpreted as a result of fundamental social and economic transformations. The problems of economic inequality are presented in the historical perspective in close connection with the previous stages of Russia's socioeconomic development. Significant polarization of the population is one of the most significant conflict factors in modern society, which leads to an increase in protest moods and may in the long term threaten social upheavals. Nevertheless, dissatisfaction with the socio-economic situation does not lead to ideas of the unification and consolidation of society, but find expression in social conflicts. The emergence and development of social conflicts is influenced by a number of factors: economic, ethnic, religious. One of the most important characteristics of society is its social structure. After the collapse of the USSR, the previous social structure was abolished, and a new social reality was formed in Russia. When considering the stratification structure of society, most attention is paid to the middle class, which is considered the backbone of a stable society. The middle class in Russia is in the stage of formation, it is hardly possible to speak of a complete analogy with the middle class of Western society. The share of middle class in society can be estimated in different ways depending on the methodological approaches used by researchers. An important consequence of the transformation of the social structure was the problem of marginalization, since the dismantling of the old social structure and the slow formation of the new one put the social status and place in the division of labor system of many individuals into question. The sharp impoverishment of representatives of prestigious professions led to a reassessment of their situation, especially for the younger generation. When analyzing the origins of social conflicts in modern Russian society, it is necessary to consider the issue of the attitude of the broad masses of the population to power and national elites. It should be noted that power in Russia historically takes shape around specific leaders and does not have an institutional character. The most significant factor shaping the attitude towards the authorities and the elite in general in Russian society are the economic results of the market reforms that have taken place. Only a small part of the population believes that they won as a result of the changes that have taken place, the natural consequence of which is the population's distrust of the authorities and, in general, political institutions.

SOCIO- PEDAGOGICAL FACTORS FOR VALUE FORMATION AMONG MODERN STUDENTS YOUTH

2018 ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Hanna Chorna
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Value Orientations ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Lower Priority ◽  
Psychological Point ◽  
The Individual

pedagogical, psychological factors, which influence on the process of values formation and development. It has been figured out the definition of “value”, which is usually considered as importance, significance or usefulness for a personality, society or ethnic group. It has been stated that values formation for a person happens in hard conditions in comparison with social norms and values. Such factor causes contradiction and, perhaps, strong and notable conflicts. In modern students youth environment, high common to all mankind values are diminished and lost; they are namely, kindness, honour, humanity, sincerity, justice, and compassion for other people. Sometimes students youth prefers not spiritual moments of human-being, but the values of material welfare forgetting that the best and most important in life, such as love, smile, family, happiness, can be obtained free of charge. It has been singled out the mental manifestations of spirituality, among which there are development, religiosity, creativity, search, and love. It has been presented here the sociological researches of value orientations among students’ youth of the last decade. These researches convince that the certain personality type has been forming in the consciousness of modern youth. This type is common for the Western society that is a person who first of all values themselves and thinks that their activity, success in life and all of this depend on them. It has been studied that, from a psychological point of view, value orientations are a special meaningful value and sense dimension, which characterizes the subject as a personality. It has been revealed that mass media strongly influences the formation of youth value orientations, considering that mass media occupies the leading positions in the system of communications of the individual in the modern society. According to the conducted study of values and views of young people, the main priorities in life, for most of them, are family happiness and career. Of the lower priority among youth preferences there are the opportunity to be free and independent in their decisions and actions and to be able to realize their talents and abilities. Young people living in urban areas, compared to rural youth, say mostly about their family-oriented happiness, their intentions to make a career and to be able to realize their talents and abilities. As a result of the study, it has been found out that the values of modern youth are significantly influenced by the environment, in which the individual resides and the place of residence. This all defines his opportunities and, accordingly, values orientations.

The Politics of Repressed Guilt

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Leeb
Keyword(s):  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
National Socialist ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Political Consequences ◽  
Critical Scholarship ◽  
Important Addition ◽  
Defensive Mechanisms ◽  
The Right

Through a critical appropriation of Hannah Arendt, and a more sympathetic engagement with Theodor W. Adorno and psychoanalysis, this book develops a new theoretical approach to understanding Austrians’ repression of their collaboration with National Socialist Germany. Drawing on original, extensive archival research, from court documents on Nazi perpetrators to public controversies on theater plays and museums, the book exposes the defensive mechanisms Austrians have used to repress individual and collective political guilt, which led to their failure to work through their past. It exposes the damaging psychological and political consequences such failure has had and continues to have for Austrian democracy today—such as the continuing electoral growth of the right-wing populist Freedom Party in Austria, which highlights the timeliness of the book. However, the theoretical concepts and practical suggestions the book introduces to counteract the repression of individual and collective political guilt are relevant beyond the Austrian context. It shows us that only when individuals and nations live up to guilt are they in a position to take responsibility for past crimes, show solidarity with the victims of crimes, and prevent the emergence of new crimes. Combining theoretical insights with historical analysis, The Politics of Repressed Guilt is an important addition to critical scholarship that explores the pathological implications of guilt repression for democratic political life.

MEDIA AND MODERNITY: THE ROLE OF THE PRINTING PRESS IN THE MODERNIZATION OF WESTERN SOCIETY

1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-301
Author(s):  
Yuyun Sunesti
Keyword(s):  
Modern Society ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Western Society ◽  
15Th Century ◽  
Cultural Life ◽  
Information Media ◽  
Printing Method ◽  
Important Milestone

One of the influential factors in the formation of modern society in the Westernworld and subsequently spread to over the world has been the discovery of printing presswhich can be found in the form of printing method, printing company and print media.Since it was firstly used by Gutenberg in about 15th century AD, information which waspreviously delivered through oral medium with a limited audience, then through a methodof printing can be reproduced in large quantities and can be read by more audience, acrossdistance and time. Printing method which encourages the emergence of large printingcompanies and then print media has contributed in transforming modern cultural life ofsociety.In addition, the advent of the printing industries which has transformed intotransnational corporations as well as the emergence of journals and regular newspapersalso contributes significantly in raising public spaces as a medium for discussion andcritical thinking amidst society. Ultimately, this information media transformation brings achange in the state system which is more open and leads to the emergence of ideas ofnationalism which becomes an important milestone in transforming traditional societiesinto modern societies.

PHILOSOPHICAL PROPAEDEUTICS IN THE SYSTEM OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 11-15
Author(s):  
Gan N.Yu. ◽  
Ponomareva L.I. ◽  
Obukhova K.A.
Keyword(s):  
Modern Science ◽  
Preschool Education ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
The Social ◽  
Moral Problems ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual ◽  
And Training

Today, worldview, spiritual and moral problems that have always been reflected in education and upbringing come to the fore in society. In this situation, there is a demand for philosophical categories. One of the priority goals of education in modern conditions is the formation of a reasonable, reflexive person who is able to analyze their actions and the actions of other people. Modern science is characterized by an understanding of the absolute value and significance of childhood in the development of the individual, which implies the need for its multilateral study. In the conditions of democratization of all spheres of life, the child ceases to be a passive object of education and training, and becomes an active carrier of their own meanings of being and the subject of world creation. One of the realities of childhood is philosophizing, so it is extremely timely to address the identification of its place and role in the world of childhood. Children's philosophizing is extremely poorly studied, although the need for its analysis is becoming more obvious. Children's philosophizing is one of the forms of philosophical reflection, which has its own qualitative specificity, on the one hand, and commonality with all other forms of philosophizing, on the other. The social relevance of the proposed research lies in the fact that children's philosophizing can be considered as an intellectual indicator of a child's socialization, since the process of reflection involves the adoption and development of culture. Modern society, in contrast to the traditional one, is ready to "accept" a philosophizing child, which means that it is necessary to determine the main characteristics and conditions of children's philosophizing.

Michel Foucault and Western Medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-81
Keyword(s):  
Western Medicine ◽  
18Th Century ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Social Medicine ◽  
Western Society ◽  
1960S And 1970S ◽  
The Veil ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The 19Th Century

The article analyzes Michel Foucault’s philosophical ideas on Western medicine and delves into three main insights that the French philosopher developed to expose the presence of power behind the veil of the conventional experience of medicine. These insights probe the power-disciplining function of psychiatry, the administrative function of medical institutions, and the role of social medicine in the administrative and political system of Western society. Foucault arrived at theses insights by way of his intense interest in three elements of the medical system that arose almost simultaneously at the end of the 18th century - psychiatry as “medicine for mental illness”, the hospital as the First and most well-known type of medical institution, and social medicine as a type of medical knowledge focused more on the protection of society and far less on caring for the individual. All the issues Foucault wrote about stemmed from his personal and professional sensitivity to the problems of power and were a part of the “medical turn” in the social and human sciences that occurred in the West in the 1960s and 1970s and led to the emergence of medical humanities. The article argues that Foucault’s stories about the power of medical knowledge were philosophical stories about Western medicine. Foucault always used facts, dates, and names in an attempt to identify some of the general tendencies and patterns in the development of Western medicine and to reveal usually undisclosed mechanisms for managing individuals and populations. Those mechanisms underlie the practice of providing assistance, be it the “moral treatment” practiced by psychiatrists before the advent of effective medication, or treating patients as “clinical cases” in hospitals, or hospitalization campaigns that were considered an effective “technological safe-guard ” in the 18th and most of the 19th century.

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