Böckenförde dilemma

The Böckenförde Dilemma (German: Böckenförde-Diktum) refers to how secular governments that derive their authority from the citizenry enjoy the support of (at least some portion of) their citizenry, yet, due to varied and possibly fluctuating disposition within a secular pluralistic society, generally lack the uniformity of purpose found in an absolutist state that can more reliably create social capital.

The dilemma is named after German constitutional judge Ernst-Wolfgang Böckenförde.