Martyanov Victor
The article discusses the problem of historical evolution of Modernity paradigm from its national form embedded in European context towards its global, cosmopolitan version. The article argues that the Modernity paradigm is still developing, which makes impossible to define Modernity as a finished, closed époque. On the contrary, Modernity in its political dimension is understood as continuing and open project. It is argued that, in spite of massive post-modernist critics, the Modernity remains the basic political paradigm than legitimizes and describes contemporary political universe. Various cultural, post-modernist, ecological and other discourses seen as alternatives to Modernity do not obtain the comparable degree of universality and legitimacy.
Keywords: modernity, legitimacy, paradigm, cosmopolitism, globalization, post-modernity, Europe.