Pluralism, Socialism, and Political Legitimacy
Reflections on Opening up Communism

The processes of transition from communist rule in Eastern Europe invite reflection on the role of pluralism in rendering a political system legitimate and democratic.

F. M. Barnard (Author)

9780521092074, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 December 2008

204 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.46 kg

"Barnard has written a thoughtful analysis of the problems associated with developing plurarlism within a previously communist context...The book is well done and contains a useful index." Choice

The processes of transition from communist rule in Eastern Europe and the dilemmas of reform in the Soviet Union invite reflection on the role of pluralism in rendering a political system legitimate and democratic. Frederick M. Barnard examines differing conceptions of political pluralism, focusing on the question of how political differentiation can evolve and flourish without leading to crippling political fragmentation. The book uses certain proposals put forward by Czechoslovak reformers during the Prague Spring as a point of departure in examining broader questions about socialism and pluralism. These reformers outlined a unique form of pluralist socialism, and their arguments in favour of this political order take up a number of issues fundamental not only to the current reform process, but to political theory generally. The ways in which these proposals differed from others of the time put forward in Poland and Yugoslavia as well as from Western democratic theory are also discussed.

1. Introduction
2. The Context
3. Socialist Pluralism and Pluralist Socialism
4. Ideological Differentiation under Socialism
5. Socialism and the Language of Sentiment
6. Socialism and the Language of Rationality
7. Socialism, Politics and Citizenship
8. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA]