From collectivism to individualism: Reflection on the Consequences of Collective Attitudes on Constitutions

The history of ideas demonstrates that political philosophy focuses on two individualist and collectivist meta-narratives. Statism, Hierarchical system of power and social discipline, belief in positive liberty, dogmatic commitment to traditions and customs, altruism and living in a simple life are the considerable features of collectivist viewpoints. Moreover, collectivism put considerable impacts on constitutions. The most concrete effect is that collectivist constitutions are usually striven for establishing a Utopia. Populist tendencies, charismatic leadership, and one-party or dominant party system are among the main effects of utopianism. Collectivism has some manipulating impacts on the structure of constitutions such as manipulated system of distribution of power instead of a safe system separation of powers, politicized judiciary and centralist attitudes in the administration of power. The main characteristics of the individualists are conviction in negative liberty, minimal tasks for the government in all areas especially with respect to ethics and considering the individual as an end in it. Individualism has laid doctrines that ultimately resulted in real constitutionalism.