The Right of Rebellion in the Digital Communication Age
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2298/FID240428004GKeywords:
Locke, liberalism, authoritarianism, digital technologies, right of rebellionAbstract
In the seventeenth century, John Locke, while laying the foundations of the liberal system, was the first to theorise the right of rebellion. Within his framework, revolt against an oppressive regime was considered a collective right. However, as recent attempts at revolution under authoritarian regimes have demonstrated, the exercise of this right can prove challenging in the context of digital technologies. Compared to Locke’s era, there are notable developments concerning the motivations, principal actors, and methods of citizen uprisings. Digital technologies have played a significant role not only in facilitating revolts but also in enabling authoritarian restorations. This has underscored the urgency of safeguarding the right to rebellion by updating counterpowers against authoritarian tendencies to address the challenges of the digital age.
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