Rejecting Rights

Thelanguageofrightsisubiquitous.Itshapesthewayweconstructourdebatesoverissuessuchasabortion,affirmativeactionandsexualfreedom.Thisprovocativenewstudychallengestheveryconceptofrights,arguingthattheyjeopardizeourlibertyandunderminedemocraticdebate.Byre-conceptualizingourideasaboutlimitedgovernment,itsuggeststhatwecanlimitthereasonsorrationalesonwhichthepolitymayact.Whereasweonceusedthelanguageofrightstothwartdemocraticmajorities,Bediarguesthatweshouldnowturnourattentiontothedemocraticstate'sreasonforacting.Thiswillpermitgreaterdemocraticflexibilityanddiscretionwhileensuringgenuineliberty.Deftlyemployingpoliticaltheoryandconstitutionallawtostateitscase,thestudyradicallyrethinkstherelationshipbetweenlibertyanddemocracy,andwillbeessentialreadingforscholarsandstudentsofpoliticalandlegalphilosophy.