Is the General Will Rational?
Modern democracies, varied as they may be, share among them a common principle: the idea of deriving political legitimacy from the general will. While there have been many interpretations of More
Pettit and the GTH: How Ideal Democracies Can Navigate Institutional Obstacles
The question of government responsiveness stands at the heart of political ideals that have been set out in liberal democratic constitutions globally. In fact, the Greek translation for the word More
Electoral Muzzles: Why First Past the Post Distorts Republican Representation
Though proponents of republican democracy often assert that every citizen has the full right to participate in free and fair elections, this notion translates poorly in many western republics. [1] More
In-Depth: Reframing Feminism in “Mrs. America”
In 1972, feminists across America rallied in an attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to enshrine the equal rights of all Americans, regardless of sex, in the constitution. One More
Public Health Surveillance and the Limits of State Paternalism
The global pandemic has shed light on the new ways in which digital tools and technologies can be utilized to save lives. The digital infrastructure of the Global North makes More
California’s Proposition System: A Failure of Direct Democracy
In theory, direct democracy, the process by which the entire citizenry rather than a few elected representatives decide on laws and policies, can help to promote citizen engagement and uphold More
In-Depth: The Re-Emergence of the City-State and the Obsolescence of Nationhood
Throughout the past three and a half centuries, the nation-state has grown to become the principle level of political organization and governmental legitimacy. However, prior to the Peace of Westphalia More
Opinion: Aren’t WE Supposed to be a Democracy? A Theoretical Assessment
Amidst the third ethics scandal in his five years of leadership, Justin Trudeau has once again been put in the hot seat for his role in the WE Charity scandal. More
Understanding the Current Age of De-Democratization
Much of the contemporary political rhetoric proliferating throughout much of the historically democratic world has been described widely as a populist wave; initially manifesting itself through the Brexit referendum, Trump’s More
In-Depth: Are Economic Sanctions Justifiable?
Article 33, under the Fourth Geneva Convention, states that “No protected person may be punished for an offense that he or she did not personally commit.” At present, however, one More