Liberal Political Philosophy: The Role of Non-State Actors and Considerations of Global Justice

Liberal theories of political philosophy inform the practice and tradition of non-state actors and non-governmental organizations (together, ‘non-governmental actors’). Aspirations for global justice or a democratic peace, among other things, arise out of liberal thought from John Locke and Immanuel Kant to Jürgen Habermas and John Rawls. Their work underscores an enduring role for private actors in the public sphere as a necessary element for progressive political development. This paper analyses the role of non-governmental actors in liberal political philosophy from Kant to Rawls.

Keywords: Non-State Actors, Liberal Political Philosophy, Global Justice

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Pierik, Roland and Gordon, Geoffrey, Liberal Political Philosophy: The Role of Non-State Actors and Considerations of Global Justice (May 4, 2010). The Ashgate Research Companion to Non-State Actors, pp. 133-146, Bob Reinalda, ed., Ashgate, 2011, Amsterdam Law School Research Paper No. 2016-51, General Subserie Research Paper No. 2016-06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1719981