Publication Details

Abstract

Conceptual differentiation of civil society {biirgerliche Gesellschaft) versus the state has had a long history. Originally it rose as the means of analysis of development dynamics of capitalist society. Autonomization of structures of civil society, its relative independence upon the state is, however, a general achievement of social development. The authors consider the productive tension between civil society as the sphere of spontaneous differentiation and particular associations and the state as the representative of general interests of society to be the main reservoir of social energy and creative potential of socialism in contemporary period of its development.