Revolution and Normative Integration

The system of legal norms has a double function in society. On the one hand, it appears as an instrument of social control and settlement of conflicts and as such ensures certain stability. On the other hand, legal norms are also an agent of social change. This innovative function of the legal system is observable par- ticularly following a social revolution, when political and economic relation and social values in society have change. Social changes in Slovenia after 1990 were going on at the highest speed on the political level, and more slowly in the economic area, although economic reasons—low productivity of the socialist economic system with state and social property—were primarily responsible for political changes. These were followed by alterations of prevailing patterns of social behaviour, determined by legal and other norms. The stated changes were slowest in the area of social consciousness and actual internalisation of new social values.

Keywords: revolution, legal system, continuity, dialectics, legitimacy, normative integration.