№ 2 - 2014
Sakwa R.
Axiological vs Dialogical Politics in Contemporary Europe

The author analyzes the Russian-European relations through the prism of two opposing types of politics. On the one hand, the concept of “axiology” is used to denote a form of politics that is categorical, monological and ideological. Axiological politics assumes that some things have been settled outside of the political process, and thus politics becomes a means for the implementation of a priori positions. On the other hand, the concept of dialogical politics reflects the normative democratic ideal, suggesting that the quotient of axiological politics can be tempered by the structured engagement of different political subjects in a “communicative” process. Particular attention is paid to the conceptual foundations of dialogical politics and correlation between the two types of politics in different political regimes. The paper also focuses on mimesis, which is at the heart of axiological politics. Correspondingly, three types of mimetic politics are explored: mimetic violence, adaptive mimesis, and mimetic simulacra.