Our Best Hope

The 21st century has witnessed the emergence of new physical and social realities that challenge the ongoing integrity of democracy, liberalism, and the rule of law. Our Best Hope makes the case that the rule of law, as a form of social contract, has become the most effective human invention for preserving social order, individual freedoms, and the governmental system of democracy. The book reflects the ongoing multidisciplinary research pursued by the CIR in addressing the pressing challenges of today’s human social systems—first it describes the operational dynamics of our self-organizing human brain systems and social systems; then it explains what is encompassed by the rule of law and identifies the science that proves its essential role in 21st century human social systems. Specifically addressing the tensions and conflicts that naturally emerge within complex human social, cultural, economic, and political systems, this forward-thinking book explores the many different ways in which the rule of law generates the order and predictability required to sustain the integrity of vital civic institutions, combat the evils of autocracy, and sustain human integrity and creativity.