Parallel Polis

Parallel Polis

Parallel Polis is a theoretical concept developed by Czech dissident Vaclav Benda (1942–1999) during the height of communist domination in Czechoslovakia in the 1970s. It was translated into English in 1978.

In a repressed state, Benda argues that it is impossible to overturn corrupt social, economic and political institutions. Such efforts are futile.

Instead, he suggests the creation of new "parallel institutions" that are more responsible to human needs. In time, he further argues, these more credible institutions may supplant the old corrupt ones.

The seminal idea received great attention in the dissident community in Czechoslovakia and in western political circles. It was, however, never put into practice. With the arrival of the Velvet Revolution in 1990, the idea seemed irrelevant.

It has since been revived by a group of scholars at the University of Washington. Their thinking posits that Benda's idea is now being practiced on the Internet which more easily facilitates parallel institutions.

See also

* Civil society


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vaclav Benda — (August 8, 1946 June 2, 1999) was a Czechoslovakian born political activist and mathematician. Along with other dissidents in the 1960s and 70s, Benda led the movement for greater political freedom and expression in the communist dominated nation …   Wikipedia

  • Ivan Martin Jirous — Infobox Writer name = Ivan Martin Jirous imagesize = 175px caption = Ivan Martin Jirous, Ostrava, December 11, 2007 pseudonym = birthdate = Birth date and age|1944|23|9|df=yes birthplace = Humpolec, Czech Republic deathdate = deathplace =… …   Wikipedia

  • Elemér Hankiss — (Debrecen, 4 May 1928 ) is a Hungarian sociologist.He was born in the Eastern Hungarian town of Debrecen, where his father was a professor of literature.He received his university degree in French and English languages from Budapest University,… …   Wikipedia

  • ancient Greek civilization — ▪ historical region, Eurasia Introduction       the period following Mycenaean civilization, which ended in about 1200 BC, to the death of Alexander the Great, in 323 BC. It was a period of political, philosophical, artistic, and scientific… …   Universalium

  • griechische Klassik —   Athen war nicht Griechenland, aber sowohl die Zeitgenossen als auch die nachfolgenden Generationen der Antike sahen es immer als den Mittelpunkt griechischer Kultur an. So prachtvoll die Bauten Großgriechenlands und Siziliens waren, so viel… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Homosexualität im antiken Griechenland — Symposium, Szene aus Grab in Paestum Die Belege für Homosexualität im antiken Griechenland sind zahlreich. Die gleichgeschlechtliche Liebe im antiken Griechenland wird oftmals als Musterbeispiel für Toleranz gegenüber Homosexualität im… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • JERUSALEM — The entry is arranged according to the following outline: history name protohistory the bronze age david and first temple period second temple period the roman period byzantine jerusalem arab period crusader period mamluk period …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • political system — Introduction       the set of formal legal institutions that constitute a “government” or a “ state.” This is the definition adopted by many studies of the legal or constitutional arrangements of advanced political orders. More broadly defined,… …   Universalium

  • Griechenland — Grie|chen|land; s: Staat im Süden der Balkanhalbinsel. * * * Griechenland,     Kurzinformation:   Fläche: 131 625 km2   Einwohner: (2001) 10,94 Mio.   Hauptstadt: Athen   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Royal Malaysian Police — Infobox Law enforcement agency agencyname = Royal Malaysian Police nativename = Polis Di Raja Malaysia nativenamea = nativenamer = abbreviation = RMP / PDRM fictional = patch = patchcaption = logocaption = badge = Royal Malaysian Police.svg… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”