REFLECTING ON THE RULE OF LAW, ITS RECIPROCAL RELATION WITH RIGHTS, LEGITIMACY AND OTHER CONCEPTS AND INSTITUTIONS

The author makes a case for the rule of law as a force for social change and for human rights. Using examples from the US and the UK, the evolution of human rights legislation is examined, from the abolition of slavery to the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights. The necessary legal and social components of a stable and legitimate government are discussed. The author stresses the necessity of an expanding viewpoint in the search for human rights and examines how the Magna Carta first established the principle of the ultimate rule of law. In conclusion, the author asserts a reciprocal relationship between the rule of law and respect for human rights. To the extent that a government is subject to the rule of law, the human and civil rights of its citizens are advanced.