COMMUNITARIAN MORAL CLAIMS FOR DEMOCRACY

Jarmila Jurová

Authors

Jarmila Jurová Universidad de Eslovaquia

Keywords:

Communitarianism, Democracy, Rights and responsibilities, Common good.

Abstract

This article examines the main communitarian moral claims in defense of democracy, focusing on the structural tension between individual rights and social responsibilities in contemporary democratic states. Through a philosophical and normative analysis, the author engages with key communitarian thinkers—such as Charles Taylor, Amitai Etzioni, Philip Selznick, and Sikku Hellsten—to argue that democracy requires not only legal guarantees of rights but also a shared political identity and a strong moral commitment of citizens to the common good. The study maintains that modern democracies face a “standing dilemma”: the need for social cohesion may lead to exclusionary practices, particularly regarding the integration of minorities and immigrants, while the unchecked primacy of rights can undermine solidarity and democratic legitimacy. In response, communitarianism proposes rebalancing political discourse by revaluing civic responsibilities, understood as duties that are not always legally enforceable but are essential to democratic life. The article critically addresses the inflation of rights-based language and outlines the communitarian agenda aimed at restoring the link between rights and responsibilities, emphasizing the role of institutions such as family, school, and community in citizens’ moral formation. The study concludes that the communitarian approach does not seek to deny fundamental rights but to situate them within a broader ethical and social framework capable of strengthening democracy, social cooperation, and the pursuit of the common good.

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References

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