ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to explore the relationship between illiberalism and human rights and to clear the ground for informed discussions on a key issue of contemporary political theory. Are these concepts natural enemies because human rights and liberalism are essentially coupled? Or could human rights also exist in illiberal contexts and, if so, how would they look or have to change? From a philosophical perspective, the relationship of illiberalism and human rights is primarily a question of how the two relate as theoretical concepts. Given that there is no single or context-free understanding of either concept, this contribution provides operational definitions allowing for analytical clarity. Finally, it explores the question of how much (or how little) flexibility human rights admit to accommodate illiberal viewpoints drawing on endeavours to restrict human rights with reference to (religious) morality.
