ned and undirected social fragmentation leads to conflict,
destruction, perhaps to chaos. Success in politics rests on an
understanding of the chaos and its causes and an integration of
conflicting forces behind specific programs and around charismatic
personalities.

One aspect of the problem is especially disturbing and baffling to the
uninitiated. Compared with the brief adulthood of an individual the life
span of communities is immensely long. The individual is at his or her
best for a few years or decades. Communities and their institutions
endure for hundreds and in some cases for thousands of years. Under the
most favorable conditions an individual can hope to play a part in
community affairs for a decade or two. Before he comes on the stage of
public affairs and after he leaves it, social life stretches
indefinitely.

Politics is one aspect of that more or less extensive social experience.
Its immediate objective is to bring order out of chaos and replace
randomness by purpose and if possible by plan.

In the wake of the bourgeois revolution, which was directed particularly
against monarchy and generally against absolutism, the most obvious and
attractive social pattern was a republic, ruled by the citizens in a
manner which in their opinion was best calculated to promote their
safety and happiness.

Under a republican government public affairs would be openly and freely
discussed by the citizens at a time or place of their choice by word of
mouth, through a free press or in public gatherings. At stated intervals
elections would be held at which all citizens of proper age would select
representatives and a legislature or parliament where questions of
public concern could be debated and appropriate measures adopted.
Implementation or execution of these measures would be placed in the
hands of executive officers responsible to the parliament. As a
safeguard against any miscarriage of the public will, the right of
petition was guaranteed. In some instances the right of referendum and
recall was provided. To obviate any miscarriage of justice, provision
was made for courts, responsible to the citizenry, as an independent arm
of government competent to protect and assert popular rights.

Overall, citizens of the republic, through duly elected representatives,
would draw up and proclaim a constitution containing a general plan of
the governmental machinery. When adopted by the legislature or
parliament this cons