Demokracja a liberalizm

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the presumptions of democracy and liberalism, and then to show the possible existence of liberal democracy. The paper consists of three parts. In the first part the author presents democracy as a political system, where power is exercised by all people directly or indirectly. Four main principles of democracy are discussed: participation of all citizens in the exercise of power, equality, freedom of individuals and a majority stake in decision-making. The author also mentions many of its advantages: human freedom, protection of minorities, development of each individual, the individuals’ possibility to participate in power and influence on lawmaking. In the second part the author presents liberalism, which can be understood in different ways (e.g. spiritual attitude, set of rules, institutions, philosophical system). He presents the main features of contemporary liberalism and distinguishes its different types (political, social and economic; individualistic and community; American and European). He emphasizes its advantages (civil society) and defects (lack of a coherent conception of the state and solid intellectual base). In the third part the author shows liberal democracy as an initially problematic phenomenon. He pays attention to its characteristics (emphasis on the role of the individual, human rights, sovereignty of the people, representative system, neutral character of the state, focus on the technical issues of the functioning of the political mechanism and consensus as the basis of functioning of the state).