以1989年的巨变为顶点的东欧动荡重新引起人们对“公民社会”这个概念的强烈兴趣。笔者认为这是理所当然的,因为这个概念的种种内涵确实与建立民主自由的社会政治秩序密切相关。其实,“民主制度”一词固然适合于指称具有可参与性的且负责任的政府,但是它所意味的模式与“公民社会”相较,在实用性上还略差一些。 The turmoil in Eastern Europe, culminating in the great changes of 1989, has renewed a strong interest in the concept of “civil society.” I think this is a matter of course, because the various connotations of this concept are indeed closely linked to the establishment of a democratic and free social and political order. In fact, the term “democratic system” is, of course, suitable for allegedly participatory and responsible government. However, the model it implies is somewhat less practical than that of “civil society.”