Authority and Consent

Much of what we discuss in this course speaks to authority (who rules) and consent (who is ruled).

Authority means that the state, for example, has authority over a citizen (individual). It also means that the individual consents to such authority.

Remember my example of who put the police in charge of the law (us)?

Consent theory is largely derived from contract theory. You will remember our analysis Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau (see previous posts below).

Consent theory says that when we consent to obey authority (the law) we take on the obligation to obey authority (the law).

Modern political theory particularly emphasizes Locke's thinking on consent. He tells us that there is a distinction between express consent (voting) or tacit consent (obeying the law).

Lock like Plato claim that living in a state (resident citizen for example) means that the individual consents to obey its laws.

This emphasis is, of course, contested. Remember that living in apartheid South Africa did not automatically imply consent by oppressed folk. This means that we must be careful to simply believe that obeying a law implies consent.

Some consent theorists also point out that voting is central to consent. Free elections processes authority. That process implies consent.

I want you to think about how and why you consent to live in South Africa and obey its laws.

What is the content of your consent?

What are the limits?