Starting out from the possible variations of the relations between the state and society, the author weighs the possibilities of state intervention and discusses the chances of modernisation and the elimination of being in the periphery. He classifies the standpoints reflected in the related lit­erature. He argues in favour of analysing the differentiated affects of the dependence (on the world economy) which he considers to be more pro­ductive that the centre-periphery dichotomy.

The article is based on the hypothesis that the right and left wings always organize themselves around the contradiction of property and freedom. The author expounds the idea that neither of these two extremes is suitable for becoming a principle of organising society, thus he argues in support of the validity of guidance by the centre. He joins the "pendulum" theory followed by many, which says that if politics swings in one direction for a long time, then social balance (which in the author's view is the balance of property and freedom) can only be restored if it then swings back in the other direction. The article is followed by some remarks of the Editor.

A reflection on the kind of analysis in vogue which mixes up left wing with extreme left as well as criticism of the left wing on capitalism with the one coming from the extreme right.