Politics and techniques in the works of Mihailo Markovic

Abstract

This paper aims to describe and analyze views of Mihailo Marković on techniques within its’ social context, but primarily relationship between techniques and politics. Marković’s works on definitions of techniques, role of modern techniques in society and its’ influence on changing patterns of human behaviour, organization of labour and political organization of society are, in a way, representative for the 'zeitgeist', but in some aspect they are far beyond it. Pointing out deficiencies of one-sided approaches, he provides some unique and original insights, including a detailed analysis of those traits of modern technology that open great possibilities for misuse, but also bear huge potential for emancipation. Finally, one of major contributions of Mihailo Marković in the field of politics and techniques relations is his argumentation that politics can be seen as techniques. Drawing from Machiavelli’s works, he also provides a general analysis in which he shows why such understanding of politics is possible.

Cilj ovog rada je deskripcija i analiza stavova Mihaila Markovića o tehnici u njenom društvenom kontekstu, a pre svega o njenom odnosu sa politikom. Markovićevi radovi o pojmovnom određenju tehnike, ulozi savremene tehnike u društvu i njenom uticaju na promene u obrascima čovekovog ponašanja, organizacije rada i političke organizacije društva, u određenom smislu se uklapaju u 'duh vremena', ali u pojedinim aspektima ga daleko prevazilaze. Ukazujući na nedostatke jednostranih pristupa, on pruža neke sasvim originalne uvide i detaljnu analizu onih karakteristika savremene tehnike koje otvaraju velike mogućnosti za zloupotrebe, ali imaju i veliki emancipatorski potencijal. Konačno, jedan od velikih doprinosa Mihaila Markovića razmatranju odnosa između tehnike i politike jeste obrazloženje politike kao tehnike. Polazeći od Makijavelijevih dela, on daje i jednu opštu analizu u kojoj pokazuje zbog čega je ovakvo shvatanje politike moguće.