Parkhomenko, R. N. Jurgen Habermas about Modern Democracy

Abstract: Jurgen Habermas’ theory of deliberative democracy has been the matter of philosophical discussions in the West for a long time. The author of the present article compares Habermas’ theory to the liberal and republican forms of government. According to Habermas, political public sphere of a developed democratic state should realize principles of separation of a ruling government from economic society, freedom of speech and information exchange. All the three elements including equal rights to liberty, democratic participation and take part in government by using public opinion are “merged” into one project. However, they may have a different role and different order depending on political traditions. Liberal tradition, for example, demonstrates preference towards freedoms of citizens while republican and deliberative traditions emphasize participation of active citizens in democratic will expression or formation of more rational public opinions. The author of the article describes certain weak points in the theory of democracy developed by Habermas in his later works. In particular, the author criticizes his famous theory on communicative rationality.

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