ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a definition of "the democratic society" within which the right can be redefined or even, in a time of emergency times be violated. It suggests that "the democratic society" should be understood as "a participatory community of equals". In reality, the shared project of action of how to build the community is what mostly unifies the members of the community. While building a community, we become a community. For belonging in a true democratic community, the community should be necessarily participatory in substantive terms. The very idea of community implies at least that members are equal in their membership, and our notions of equality are themselves derived from the standards of a community. Love for equal belonging in a democratic society is, the foundation upon which a society can be built as "a community of equals". The chapter presents a historic misunderstanding and abuse of the concept of a "national community".
