At the end of European Communism, there was a widespread, euphoric hope that freedom and democracy would bring a better life; eventually, though, many lost that hope. The problem, under both Communism and the new liberal dispensation, was that those pursuing grand social projects had embraced ideology instead of philosophy.
considers what an Albanian Marxist philosopher can tell us about liberty in today's world.
For the US, Slovakia's general election may produce another unreliable allied government. But instead of turning a blind eye to such allies, as President Joe Biden has been doing with Poland, or confronting them with an uncompromising stance, the US should spearhead efforts to help mend flawed democracies.
reflect on the outcome of Slovakia's general election in the run-up to Poland's decisive vote.
发自伦敦——如果某件事情不可能发生,那它就不会发生。如果一个国家投票决定2加2应该等于5,那么无论投赞成票的比例有多大或者“人民的呼声”有多响亮,这个“民主决定”最终都将服从于算术规则。而这就是眼下正在英国发生的景象:首相特蕾莎·梅的政府正向着英国脱欧悲剧喜剧的最后一幕艰难迈进。
2016年,英国人民投票决定要脱离欧盟并同时保持作为欧盟成员国所享有的“完全相同的权益”。梅政府负责脱欧谈判的前国务大臣戴维·戴维斯(David Davis)在议会中一再重申了这个说法,随后梅自己也热情地接受了这一说辞。而英国脱欧的主要倡导者,前外交大臣鲍里斯·约翰逊的承诺则更是过分美好:英国人将可以完全自由地在整个欧洲生活,工作和学习;无限制地进入欧盟单一市场;只要脱欧后的英国政府愿意,随时可以充分参与任何政治机构。简而言之,2016年公投就是一个要将2加2等于5的投票。
这种自我妄想的后果如今变得越发明显,因为英国政府发现自己无法让议会通过任何现实的脱欧计划。如果这种情况持续下去,英国就只有一个选择:再搞一场公投来重新考量2016年投票得出的不可能结果。
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