Politikai döntések a gyorsuló idöben [The Acceleration of Political Decision-making]

Levente, Balogh László; Rojek, Tim; Westphal, Manon

Abstract

The detailed description exceeds the scope of this paper, but our aim is to trace a peculiar problem of decision-making theory that can be allocated at the intersection of political theory, sociology and philosophy. What we are trying to do is to emphasize the importance of the relationship between political decision-makingand the timespan available for it. In order to do that, first we make distinctions between some basic concepts that play central rolein the descriptive and normative approach of the issues under review. Second, this paper is not about detailed elaboration of solutions, it does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. Our aim is therefore to shape problem sensitivity. In the first part we present some terminological basic lines in order to outline the conceptual aspect of the problem, and to develop assumptions that underly our decision-making analysis. Next, we approach the problem of decision-making based on some theses of contemporary „time-sociology”(time as sociology’s basic concept), and – in relation to that – we point at some specific shortfalls of democracy. Finally, based on a profound historical and theoretical analysis, we show howsome basic considerations of the Ritter-school of the early years of the Federal Republic of Germany make possible for us to reconsider the complex question elaborated above.