Human Rights, Rule of Law and the Contemporary Social Challenges in Complex Societies

Modern societies often claim to be democracies in order to enjoy greater legitimacy. Still, to understand the concept of democracy and how to justify it, the definition of it as self-determined is not sufficient. A complex understanding has to take into account ideas of rule of law as well as human rights. Sometimes these three concepts compete with each other – particularly in societies with a pluralistic approach to what "the good life" should be, such as societies which are made up of distinct cultural backgrounds. This book presents a concept of democracy that encompasses at the same time the ideas of rule of law, human rights and self-determination. It contains the main lectures of the XXVI World Congress of Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy, hosted by the Internationale Vereinigung für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil) in July 2013.

Marcelo Campos Galuppo is a Bachelor of Laws (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1990) and Doctor of Philosophy of Law (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1998). He is also professor at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais Law School (since 1994) and at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Law School (since 2009), President of the XXVI World Congress of Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy and President of the Brazilian IVR Section (Associação Brasileira de Filosofia do Direito e Sociologia do Direito)

Monica Sette Lopes is a Bachelor of Laws (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) and Doctor of Philosophy of Law (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais). She is also a professor at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Law School and a director of the Brazilian IVR Section (Associação Brasileira de Filosofia do Direito e Sociologia do Direito)

Karine Salgado is a Bachelor of Laws (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Master of Philosophy of Law (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) and Doctor of Philosophy of Law (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais). She is also a professor at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Law School.

Lucas Alvarenga Gontijo is a Bachelor of Laws (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais), Master of Philosophy of Law (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais) and Doctor of Philosophy of Law (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais). He is also a Professor at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais Law School and at the Faculdades Milton Campos School of Law and a director of the Brazilian IVR Section (Associação Brasileira de Filosofia do Direito e Sociologia do Direito).