The Doctrine of Historical Policy, or a “Drama” in Several acts

Piotr Witek

The article consists of four parts. The fi rst part focuses on the issues of theoretical conceptualization of a histori- cal policy doctrine as two kinds of social engineering – holistic social engineering and local social engineering. The second part concentrates on representing the arguments of supporters and opponents of the idea of historical policy. The third part comprises analytical and critical comments on the positions of supporters and opponents of the doctrine of historical policy. The last part presents a conclusion in which the idea of historical policy is treated as a contemporary mutation of the ancient dispute between two traditions, of Plato on the one hand and Heraclitus and Pericles on the other.