One of the defining features of modern societies is pluralism—the coexistence of diverse cultures, religions, identities, values, and ways of life within a single political community. Democracy, which is often described as government by the people, must operate within this condition of diversity. While pluralism enriches democratic life, it also creates serious challenges related to…
In contemporary political theory, questions of identity and recognition have emerged as central concerns, particularly in multicultural, pluralistic, and democratic societies. Modern politics is no longer limited to issues of redistribution, economic justice, or formal equality; it increasingly revolves around demands for recognition of identities based on culture, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and language….
The idea of “Rights as Trumps” is most famously associated with the liberal political philosopher Ronald Dworkin. In modern political theory, this concept plays a crucial role in debates concerning individual rights, democracy, and constitutionalism. Dworkin developed this idea as a response to utilitarian and majoritarian theories, which often justify limiting individual rights in the…
Introduction Rights are central to modern political and moral theory. They protect individual freedoms, secure human dignity, and limit the power of the state. However, rights do not always coexist harmoniously. In many real-world situations, the exercise of one right can come into conflict with another. These situations are described as conflicts between rights. The…
One of the central debates in political and legal theory concerns the nature and justification of rights. While there is broad agreement that rights play a foundational role in modern political theory, there is deep disagreement about what rights actually are and what function they serve. This disagreement is most clearly expressed in the debate…
Introduction The debate on global justice has emerged as one of the most important areas of contemporary political theory, particularly in the context of globalization, global inequality, poverty, and international institutions. While traditional theories of justice largely focused on justice within the boundaries of the nation-state, thinkers like Thomas Pogge have argued that justice must…
Introduction Contemporary political theory has been deeply shaped by critiques of liberalism, particularly its emphasis on abstract individualism and universal principles of justice. Two influential strands of critique come from communitarianism and feminist political theory, both of which question liberal assumptions about the self, justice, and morality. While communitarian theorists emphasize the moral importance of…
Introduction One of the most significant debates in contemporary political theory concerns the moral foundations of distributive justice. While egalitarianism has long dominated discussions of justice, several theorists have questioned whether equality should be the central moral goal. This has given rise to an influential debate between three competing approaches: equality, priority, and sufficiency. The…
Introduction The question “Equality of What?” represents one of the most important debates in modern political theory. While most political theorists agree that equality is a fundamental value, there is deep disagreement about what exactly should be equalized in a just society. Should equality be understood in terms of welfare, resources, or human capabilities? This…
Introduction In contemporary political theory and development studies, freedom is no longer understood merely as the absence of state interference or the possession of formal political rights. One of the most influential reconceptualizations of freedom in the late twentieth century was offered by Amartya Sen, who argued that freedom should be understood as both the…
