Koncepcja państwa społecznego Wacława Makowskiego

Abstract

WACŁAW MAKOWSKI’S CONCEPT OF SOCIAL STATE

Wacław Makowski’s concept of social state is based on the original and extensive deliberations possessing historical, sociological and psychological context. The author was an eminent lawyer and prominent politician. He attempted to justify changes associated with the structure of Polish authoritarianism that took place after 1926. According to Makowski, new times required new solutions. A parliament, which is supported by traditionally-understood political parties, would work out in a liberal system, the main principle of which is the execution of negative guarantees. Nowadays, the positive guarantees have come to the fore — the State has faced the “great new task” of securing them that needs to be undertaken and implemented in the solidary interest of the community. The assumptions mentioned above led Makowski to question such principles as separation of powers, sovereignty of the people or the existence of subjective rights, and to claim that a legislature is to possess “a merely supportive function of the social activity of a State.” According to Makowski, President should be a coordinator of the new, complex tasks. Consequently, the author demands that President be granted appropriate and commensurate competences and prerogatives.