Should we ban killer robots?

Images of killer robots are the stuff of science fiction - but also, increasingly, of scientific fact on the battlefield. Should we be worried, or is this a normal development in the technology of war? In this accessible volume ethicist Deane Baker cuts through the confusion ...

Should Secret Voting Be Mandatory?

Political Theory Today

The secrecy of the ballot, a crucial basic element of representative democracy, is under threat. Attempts to make voting more convenient in the face of declining turnout - and the rise of the "ballot selfie" - are making it harder to guarantee secrecy. Leading scholars James Johnson ...

What do we owe to refugees?

Who are refugees? Who, if anyone, is responsible for protecting them? What forms should this protection take? In a world of people fleeing from civil wars, state failure, and environmental disasters, these are ethically and politically pressing questions. In this book, David Owen reveals how ...

Can liberal states accommodate indigenous peoples?

"The original - and often continuing - sin of countries with a settler colonial past is their brutal treatment of indigenous peoples. Duncan Ivison's book considers how these states can accommodate indigenous populations today, and contends that we need to move towards a historically and theoretically ...

Should animals have political rights?

"All states must make decisions about how to regulate the treatment of animals. In this book, Alasdair Cochrane argues that this must go further. In order to ensure that their interests are taken seriously, it is imperative that we represent them throughout the political process ...

Is self-determination a dangerous illusion?

Claims to self-determination are rife in world politics today. They range from Scottish and Catalonian campaigns for independence to calls for the devolution of power to regions and cities. But is self-determination meaningful or desirable in the 21st century, or merely a dangerous illusion? In ...

Who should own natural resources?

Political theorist Margaret Moore evaluates the multiple arguments regarding who is entitled to control and benefit from the earth's natural resources.

Can political violence ever be justified?

Violence - from state coercion to wars and revolutions - remains an enduring global reality. But whereas it is often believed that the point of constitutional politics is to make violence unnecessary, others argue that it is an unavoidable element of politics. In this lucid and erudite ...

Why should we obey the Law?

Whether we should obey the law is a question that affects everyone's day-to-day life, from traffic laws to taxes. Most people obey out of habit, but the question remains: why are we morally required to do so? If we fail to obey, the state ...

Is whistleblowing a duty?

Recent years have seen a number of whistleblowers risk their liberty to expose illegal and corrupt behaviour. Some have heralded their bravery; others see them as traitors. Can there be a moral duty to emulate their example and blow the whistle? In this book, leading ...

Is just war possible?

The idea that war is sometimes justified is deeply embedded in public consciousness. But it is only credible so long as we believe that the ethical standards of just war are in fact realizable in practice. In this engaging book, Christopher Finlay elucidates the assumptions ...

Should we control world population?

By 2100, the human population may exceed 11 billion. Having recently surpassed 7.5 billion, it has trebled since 1950. Are such numbers sustainable, given a deepening environmental crisis? Can so many live well? Or should world population be controlled? The population question, one of ...

Do states have the right to exclude immigrants?

States claim the right to choose who can come to their country. They put up barriers and expose migrants to deadly journeys. Those who survive are labelled ‘illegal’ and find themselves vulnerable and unrepresented. The international state system advantages the lucky few born in rich ...