Demokratie als Organisationsform der Bürgergesellschaft

englischThe contributions selected for this volume crucial issues of constitutional theory and constitutional law. Building on a critique of state-centred approaches, the book’s first part portrays democracy as organizational form of pluralist civil society. The second part is devoted to problem of “the public” (defined here as comprising publicity and public welfare) in its national, European, and global dimensions. In this context, the perils of dedifferentiation, on one hand, and concentration of power, on the other, are highlighted as crucial challenges to the public in contemporary society. The third part analyses the municipal provision of basic services as caught amidst tensions between welfare policies and the market. The author criticises extant trends toward privatisation of public services and cautions against thoughtlessly forfeiting the advantages of public organisation. The dangers of eroding the public sphere are illustrated with regard to the highly topical example of municipal hospitals.