Abstract Political philosophy has long located legitimacy in the fairness of procedures, the justice of outcomes, or the acceptability of coercive rules under conditions of public reason. On the standard picture, if institutions follow fair rules, respect fundamental rights, and operate with moral integrity, their authority is at least minimally justified (Rawls, 1971; Scanlon, 1998;…
Political philosophy has long been preoccupied with the problem of legitimacy. Under what conditions may an institution claim moral authority over free and equal persons? Classical answers turn to the fairness of procedures, the justice of outcomes, or the moral acceptability of coercive rules under conditions of public reason. Rawls famously grounds legitimacy in principles…
Abstract This article provides an integrated historical analysis of the evolution of governance, justice, rights, and institutional design from ancient civilizations to the contemporary digital era. While each intellectual tradition, political philosophy, democratic theory, social contract thought, justice theory, public choice economics, institutionalism, global governance scholarship, and technology governance made significant contributions, none produced enforceable…
I recently reviewed “Fairness, Globalization and Public Awareness” by Jim Dator, Dick Pratt, and Yongseok Seo. The paper makes an important point: in a globalized world, governments and institutions must not reduce themselves to enterprises chasing efficiency. They must remember fairness—protecting citizens, ensuring opportunity, and fostering critical awareness. This is a powerful reminder. But it…
When we talk about human rights, the conversation usually turns to things like health, education, housing, or freedom. These are essential—no human life is complete without them. But there is something deeper that is often overlooked: the system itself. Because what good is the right to health if hospitals are corrupt?What good is the right…
The Hijack of History When I realized even truth can be politicized After I started questioning religion, I turned my eyes to the state. I was still young—maybe in 10th grade—when I had a thought I couldn’t unsee: Why are our ministers not experts in the ministries they lead? I noticed it first in agriculture—the…
When religion met reality As a boy, I was known as the “good Muslim kid.” I prayed five times a day. Not just in passing — I was muazzin for the small prayer room in the Union Parishad building. My grandfather had convinced the chairman to start a mosque room there, and I was its…
Early memories of injustice and confusion I was in ninth grade when we moved into a newly renovated government quarter in Hathazari—a former seed storage facility turned into housing for public agricultural staff. My father, a development officer, was one of the first to be placed there. The house stood in an open field, with…
From a Room in Hathazari I don’t remember the exact date. Maybe it was ninth grade. Maybe a little later. But it was definitely before university—before anyone expected me to be thinking about how the world should work. I was living in Hathazari—a quiet little town in Chattogram. Just five minutes from our house stood…
