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Freedom only for the members of the government, only for the members of the Party - though they are quite numerous - is no freedom at all. Freedom is always the freedom of dissenters. The essence of political freedom depends not on the fanatics of 'justice', but rather on all the invigorating, beneficial, and detergent effects of dissenters. If 'freedom' becomes 'privilege', the workings of political freedom are broken.

Rosa Luxemburg#10

PoliticsDissentFreedomJusticeRights

About this quote

What does it mean?
Luxemburg asserts that political freedom is meaningless without the right to dissent, warning that freedom restricted to ruling parties is no freedom at all.
In plain terms
She says freedom is only real when dissenters can speak up against the government.
What can you take from it?
True political freedom requires protecting dissent and opposition.

Where it applies

  • democratic theory
  • human rights advocacy
  • policy making

Putting it to work

  • defending civil liberties
  • critiquing authoritarianism
  • teaching political theory

Questions to consider

  • What makes freedom meaningful?
  • How do we protect minority voices?

Another view

Unrestrained dissent can sometimes destabilize necessary governance structures.

More from Rosa Luxemburg

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  3. Plausible as the idea of the United States of Europe as a peace arrangement may seem to some at first glance, it has on closer examination not the least thing …

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