Power and morality: Lessons of P. Sorokin for the present

Abstract

The article discusses the problems of politics, power and morality, interest in which was constant throughout the scientific life of the famous sociologist P.A. Sorokin. This issue was developed both in the Russian and American periods of the scientist’s creative activity.

In the study “Power and Morality: Who shall guard the guardians?” P. Sorokin tried to answer the question of what prevents rulers from having such moral qualities that contribute to the realization of the rights of millions of ordinary people to freedom and the pursuit of a better life. According to this, the three ideologies that allow the moral failings unconditional praise of the rulers; approval of rulers in terms of double standards; condemnation of rulers to justify their criminal conduct.

The following warnings by the famous sociologist are very relevant. The love of power of the head of state fetters the creativity of the masses, and the cult of personality humiliates millions of people. Democracies can be as belligerent and non-living as autocratic regimes. The development of science and technology gives man enormous advantages, but does not guarantee the salvation of the world from social disasters.