Introduction In political theory, the act of speaking is often treated as the essence of participation. Democratic legitimacy is thought to rest on the voice of the people, expressed in deliberation, protest, or voting. Silence, by contrast, has long been relegated to the margins, dismissed as apathy, repression, or exclusion. Yet history and theory suggest … Read more
For much of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, the international community operated under the assumption that armed conflict, while inevitable, could be governed by agreed standards. Central to this framework were the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which codified principles of distinction, proportionality, and protection of civilians. These rules of war were meant … Read more
Introduction: A Theory Ahead of Its Time In 1971, American philosopher John Rawls revolutionized modern political thought with A Theory of Justice, a work that sought to answer one of humanity’s most enduring questions: what does it mean to create a just society? At its heart lies the notion of “justice as fairness” a vision … Read more
In a world teeming with elections, political campaigns, and constitutional frameworks, one would imagine democracy to be thriving. Yet, the irony of our times is that while the external forms of democracy remain intact, its moral and psychological foundations are weakening. This foundational concern, political legitimacy, lies at the heart of political theory, but is … Read more