Abstract
An extensive debate takes place about the concept of "relative autonomy" of culture in the Cultural sociology of J. C.
Alexander. Alexander has been criticized for presenting too culturally idealistic approach (McLennan 2005; Gartman 2007), of not being consistent about the relationship of binary cultural structure to the narratives, myths or ideologies (Skovajsa 2012), of proposing oversimplified universal binary cultural structure without dealing with the action-structure problem (Battani, Hall, Powers 1997; Eliasoph, Lichterman 2003) - only to mention some of critical receptions.
This paper will focus on the issue of the universality of binary cultural structure of civic and non-civic codes. It will be argued, that the basic cultural structure has relatively permanent character, which is not affected by the effects of historical events.
Narratives and ideologies stem from this binary structure or only temporarily seemingly overlie it (as in the period of the "real" Czech socialism, as the author claims). The basic binary code is understood as the structure of transcendent normative ideal, which could be empirically observed in breakthrough situations, when the binary code is explicitly used in the argumentation of actors, because this is the only way how to be included into the positive (civic) side of civil sphere for them.
The question of the permanence of basic cultural structure and its relationship to what the author calls secondary cultural structure (narratives, ideologies) will be presented on a case of post-communist transition (for different interpretation see Skovajsa 2012). The author will also discuss the weaknesses of the approach she presents.