21세기 시대흐름과 대한민국의 자유민주주의

• 영문명: Reforming Liberal Democracy in Harmony with New Currents in the 21st Century
• 발행기관: 신아시아연구소(구 신아세아질서연구회)
• 저자명: 이상우(李相禹)(RHEE Sang-Woo)
• 간행물 정보: 『신아세아』新亞細亞 第19卷 第1號, 101~115쪽, 전체 15쪽
• 주제분류: 사회과학 > 정치외교학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2012.03.30

영문 초록

The Republic of Korea is uncompromisingly a liberal democratic polity. Liberal democracy, however, is not a constant fixture; it needs to change in order to reflect the spirit of the times, the ever-evolving zeitgeist. An outdated version of liberal democracy must step aside to make way for a new reformed one in harmony with social currents of the 21st century. The new currents of post-industrialization and post-materialism are urgently demanding a rapid expiration of excessive across-the-board egalitarianism and rampant populism. Unless liberal democracy satisfies this demand, it is destined to be mired in hollow growth with no employment and all kinds of governance crisis. Unless we reform liberal democracy and cure its overly egalitarian and populist abuses and misuses, deep public distrust and resentment culminating in such a disorderly mass disturbance as the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ will encroach on its very base and eventually endanger its vitality. Protecting and continually promoting the noble ideal of liberal democracy will depend on how successfully we reform the obsolete institutions and practices in several aspects. First, the National Assembly calls for a fundamental upgrade to materialize its legislative expertise. Second, the party system should be reformed to a direction of improving policy-making capability and securing a sense of stability and responsibility in politics. Third, the Constitutional Court must prudently exercise its power of judicial review as a shield against myopic demagoguery and populist legislations. And, finally but not least importantly, we need to prioritize equality of opportunity, ahead of equality of result, as a key component of liberal democracy compatible with the 21st century’s new currents and trends.

목차

들어가는 말

민주주의 제도의 발전 역사

민주주의 제도의 자가 변신

21세기의 공직 전문화 추세

민주주의 제도의 보완 방안

맺는말

[English Abstract]

키워드

second industrial revolution collapse of the middle class legislative reform reform of political parties