The challenges of our times

Even in political philosophy ideas have to wait for their time to come. The history of ideas informs us that the exploration of the link between democracy, human rights and the separation of powers – qualified democracy – reached prominence during the Enlightenment; political practice tells us that it did so during the sectarian civil wars and the period of Absolutism that followed. Further demands for the provision of welfare developed during the era of industrialisation and urbanisation. Once those were met, the state faced additional responsibilities in the form of environmental protection and a responsibility towards future generations. Finally, the two world wars highlighted the imminent need for a global order of peace.