GCT 2026 published
The General Theory of Civility has been published in a revised version (GCT 2026).
You can access the text free of charge with one click via the following button.
AI-powered civility analysis
Current and historical questions can be analyzed from a civil theory perspective – even with the help of AI: To do this, enter "General and Special Civil Theory " possibly including the author's name, into Google's AI mode or other AI systems. Then ask questions referencing the theory and deepen the dialogue step by step. The better you understand civil theory, the more competent you will be in engaging with AI systems about relevant analyses.
Creative dialogue with AI
Civil-theoretical dialogues can also be conducted creatively with AI systems. As an example, we document a recent dialogue with Google's AI mode on the question: How can "pretendians" (who falsely claim an indigenous identity in Canada and the USA) be classified from a civil-theoretical perspective?
Dialog Civility gUG - KI
How does Google (AI mode) assess the empirical content of GCT? A fascinating dialogue with a surprising turn of events...
Democracy instead of populism
Populism, whether from the right or the left, disregards fundamental democratic values and institutions, such as the freedom of dissent, free elections, and the rule of law. Democracy, on the other hand, stands for a strong community of all who respect one another and prioritize the common good.
Global Diversity
Diversity traditionally refers to regional/national openness to migrants. However, it can also be conceived globally – with a view to the diversity of different people and cultures in different regions of the world. Both perspectives contain civic elements, since diversity in any case requires mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Secured borders -
a global value
Putin has been attacking Ukraine for almost four years and is making hybrid threats to other European countries; however, secure borders are a global value. Accordingly, security and freedom should be considered and protected globally, extending beyond Europe – reason enough to advocate for strengthening the United Nations.
Complex interdependence eliminated
If subject areas and societal subsystems, such as the economy or science, can organize themselves according to their own logics, it is worthwhile to make every operational effort, and general welfare increases. This constellation, also known as complex interdependence (Keohane/Nye 1977), is increasingly becoming a thing of the past thanks to Donald Trump; because now whoever has military power determines, even in previously independent subject areas—a negative indicator of the general welfare function of civility (AZT, 10.1).
The struggle for civility
Achievements of civil modernity, developed over centuries, are coming under pressure from Trump, Putin & Co. It is time to recognize this and to dedicate ourselves fully to preserving our values and institutions.
USA:
From democrat to kleptocracy
Donald Trump thinks and acts unilaterally, according to the motto: Trump's America First. However, tariff increases hinder global trade and reduce overall economic productivity. Furthermore, economic unilateralism promotes general political and military unilateralism, thereby increasing the potential for violence. Finally, Trump and his cronies enrich themselves shamelessly at the expense of the public: thieves in power (kleptocracy).
Trump's kleptocracy should be openly discussed not only in the USA, but also in the United Nations.
Equality
through quotas?
The notion that equality can only be achieved through fixed shares (quotas) of power or positions is prevalent not only in the women's movement – a view that can be justified as a counterpoint to a rigid power structure. However, quotas privilege the group subject to them, and within that group, especially those who represent them.
Equality exists when all participants have equal rights and can effectively exercise them, such as the right to vote, which guarantees active and passive suffrage without discrimination, equal voting power, and a guaranteed opportunity to participate freely. See, for example, a discussion on this topic from 2018 in the book: Theory of Civil Modernity (link below).
Are elected officials allowed to abolish fundamental democratic rights?
Russian President Putin has proposed placing Ukraine under UN administration to allow for democratic elections – a proposal clearly intended to delegitimize and weaken the freely elected Ukrainian government. However, democratic elections are fundamentally only possible if they are independent. Therefore, the question arises as to why political elections are not generally transparent and subject to UN oversight – including in Russia.
The German Federal Environment Agency and the Climate Protection Minister portray Germany as being "on track" with its climate policy. However, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise – a devastating form of self-deception.