freedom

The article aims to outline two directions in which in recent decades different political theories search for reasons and possibilities for change of liberal representative democracy. The first of them is connected with the development of the libertarian theories for which democracy ceases to be indispensable requirement to political order, and the second one with development of theories of participatory democracy, trying to expand and deepen the application of democratic principles not only beyond the representative democracy but also beyond the political system, regarding it as a supreme normative ideal. These two types of theories are explored from point of view of their underlying philosophical-political conceptions of freedom and equality. Comparative analysis and critical assessment of some of their premises and conclusions are offered, some predictable results of their conceivable application to the organization of contemporary late modern societies are outlined.