在"民主"与"共和"之间——关于现代西方政制模式的一项逻辑分析

对当今世界的许多人来说,用“民主”一词冠名现代西方政治体系,已经成为某种日常言语习惯。但这种用法并不恰当。严格地讲,现代西方国家的治理结构,既混杂了若干“非民主”的成分,更安装了一些“防民主”甚至“反民主”的部件。因此,出具一个简单的“民主”标签,不仅会误读现代西方政制模式,而且会淤塞思考大国善治问题的理论通路。事实上,今天被一并归于“民主”名下的文明政治成就,有许多来自别的政治传统,譬如“共和”。所以,应正本清源,在逻辑意涵和实践效能两方面给“民主”减负,重申“民主—共和”的互补型关系,而不能听任政治言说变成“民主”的单声道。

Between "Democracy" and "Republic"——A Logic Analysis of Modern Western Polity

Most people all over the world are used to the everyday word "democracy",which they take for granted a synonym to modern western polity.It is not exact,for,strictly speaking,there exist in western polity non-democratic,democracy-proof,or even anti-democratic elements.Thus,a simple label of "democracy" will not only mislead our understanding of western polity,but also confuse our thinking about government in these nations.It is a fact that what have been put under the category of democracy could be achievements of civilized polities of other political traditions,such as "republic".As a result,it is beneficial to make clear "democracy" in its meaning and practice,and to reaffirm the complementary relationship between democracy and republic,so as to hold back those one-sided "democratic" political propagandas.