Introduction
Democracy is more than just an electoral system; it is, above all, a civilizational invention designed to diffuse violence. Although often perceived as a tedious and demanding system, it serves as the only effective barrier protecting us from arbitrary power and tribal conflicts. This article analyzes how the philosophical concepts of Kołakowski and Hobbes translate into modern political practice. You will learn why trust in procedures is more important than fear, and how modern participation tools and open data allow citizens to exercise real control over the state.
Kołakowski: Democracy as a Violation of Human Nature
Democracy is contrary to nature because it suppresses tribal impulses and ethnic pride in favor of equal rights. According to Kołakowski, a nation instinctively strives for self-assertion, while the democratic system stubbornly treats the state as a community of all citizens, including "outsiders." In this view, satire and the mockery of national sanctities become a litmus test for freedom; a mature system allows for derision as long as it does not incite violence.
A key challenge for state stability is the institutionalization of anger. This involves transforming destructive rebellion and social emotions into lasting mechanisms for reform. Only then can the primal aggression described by Hobbes be reined in by institutions, preventing the birth of the political monsters that Europe has experienced in the past.
Procedural Trust Stabilizes the Foundations of the State
In a state of primal uncertainty, fear dominates relationships. Democracy replaces it with procedural trust—a network of mechanisms that tie the hands of those who would seek to claim power as their own. The global mosaic shows that this system adapts locally: from Western Europe battling polarization, to Latin America building networks of reciprocity, to Sub-Saharan Africa, where innovative local councils are emerging.
Democratic values find support in religious traditions. Christian justice, the Judaic responsibility of the covenant, and Buddhist compassion form the moral foundation of social order. Even the Islamic idea of Shura (communal consultation) and the Confucian Mandate of Heaven act as ethical checks on the abuse of power, requiring transparency, virtue, and accountability to the community.
The Rule of Law: A Safety Shield in Everyday Life
The rule of law is not an abstraction, but a real protection for citizens against the whims of a prosecutor or official. Its fuel is social capital—a dense network of mutual trust and cooperation. Deliberative tools, such as citizens' panels in Gdańsk or participatory budgeting in Warsaw, heal social dialogue by transforming residents' opinions into binding administrative decisions.
Institutions like the Good State Foundation act as guardians of standards, as evidenced by their petitions in the Senate archives and their presence in the National Electoral Commission (PKW) registers. The quality of the Polish state is monitored by global audits: the WJP index (Poland ranked 33rd in 2024) and Freedom House. Modern political hygiene requires authority to act like a scalpel, not an axe. Key to this are open data and digital transparency, which allow younger generations to "hack" the system through substantive oversight of state spending and algorithms.
Summary
Democracy is not a promise of paradise, but a tool for constant work on the quality of the community. It is an invitation to build bridges instead of walls and to forge primal fear into trust in fair procedures. Its durability depends on our willingness to engage in systematic effort, hold power accountable, and protect freedom of speech from tribal radicalism. Are we ready to take on this challenge to create a state where the law is stronger than passion? The answer to this question will determine our system's resilience to the crises of the future.
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