Edwin Etieyibo: "The Rule of Law and the 'Many Democracies'"

Freiburg Afrika Talk

Recent reconfigurations of politics in some parts of the world – brought about by elections – attest both to what is desirable and undesirable about democracy. Democracy is commonly valued for furthering freedom and equality. However, at the same time, it is susceptible to demagoguery. What is it that distinguishes the different forms of democracy or democratic practices (the many democracies) as truly democratic? How do we draw a line between regimes that are actually democratic and those that are not; that call themselves democracies but are in fact autocracies or totalitarian systems?

As part of his attempt to answer these questions, Edwin Etieyibo, Professor of Philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) and Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta (Canada), will revisit the concept of the rule of law (RoL): its central role in the protection of citizens’ rights and the non-arbitrary exercise of government or state powers. In this sense, the RoL can be understood as a crucial political and legal element of democracy. Etieyibo’s motivation is to discuss the relationship between the RoL and democracy: How does a focus on RoL help us to make sense of the many democracies? And how to distinguish between societies that are indeed democratic and those that are not?

An event as part of the "Freiburg Africa Talks" series organised by the ACT together with the Colloquium Politicum of the University of Freiburg.

Veranstaltung übernehmen als iCal