La cosmética del poder. Consideraciones sobre el papel de los partidos en la práctica política contemporánea

This article reflects on the role of parties in the configuration of contemporary political practice. It asks to what extent can we continue to speak of "politics" in a context in which the objective of the action of professional politicians has ceased to be the community and the effective management of its conflicts to focus on the conquest and maintenance of power. To this end, Immanuel Kant’s notions of "public reason" and "private reason" are considered, as well as some of Max Weber’s acute observations about the political vocation and the scientific vocation. Despite its situated character -it is written with the current circumstances of Spain (economic crisis, 15-M) in mind- it aims to offer useful considerations for all those interested in contemporary political theory.