Topic 8 – The paradoxes of democratisation

Topic 8 – The paradoxes of democratisation 18 November 2024 Section overviewThis section critically examines the process of democratisation in Slovenia, tracing its roots from the late 20th century through the post-independence period, and analyzing the paradoxes that have surfaced in Slovenia’s democratic development. By dissecting the conflicts between New Social Movements (NSMs) and emerging civil society during the 1980s, the chapter explores the tension between participatory, grassroots democracy advocated by the NSMs and the more hierarchical, “majority democracy” model adopted by civil society as Slovenia approached independence.The section begins by contextualizing the NSMs as a driving force in Slovenia’s early democratisation, emphasizing their emphasis on participatory democracy and individual sovereignty. Contrasted with this, the new civil society movement in the late 1980s reoriented towards a state-centered approach, prioritizing national sovereignty over individual democratic engagement. This transition also marked a shift from an inclusive, pluralistic civil society to a more homogenized and oppositional civil society, ultimately aligning more closely with traditional power structures. Powered By EmbedPress