Vom Wunder der Freiheit: Die subversive Rolle der Person in der modernen Verfassungsgeschichte

Abstract

In the course of the history of democratic voting rights a remarkable development has taken place: collective privileges to vote were completely replaced by a personalisation of voting rights. Today, it is perceived as self-evident that every adult citizen has the right to vote. But neither the classical forms of democracy acknowledged such a right nor is it promoted by the conditions of modern mass society. Therefore, its emergence and dissemination is a historic ,miracle‘ and an achievement that is based on the fundamental political concept of a ,person‘. This concept has to be protected at all tim – and today afresh – against the ever-present dangers of erosion and neglect.