Turner on Resistance to Tyranny versus the Public Good: John Locke and Counter-Terror Law in the United Kingdom

Ian Turner, University of Central Lancashire Law School, has published Resistance to Tyranny versus the Public Good: John Locke and Counter-Terror Law in the United Kingdom. Here is the abstract.

John Locke was a social contract theorist. He envisaged that individuals had domiciled in a state of nature, enjoying natural rights. But because of the insecurities of the natural state, individuals transitioned to the stability of civil society, guaranteed by a sovereign. There were fetters on the sovereign, however, such as passing laws for the public good. Is modern legislation to counter terrorism for the public good? Locke also expressly granted a right of resistance on the people. But is this right terrorism? Reflecting on these principles, this study examines counter-terror statutes and determines whether Locke would support them.

Download the article from SSRN at the link.