Pavel Dufek

Reconciling cosmopolitan theory and policy practice? Responsible states as a transitional category
In: Nikola Schmidt (ed.), Governance of Emerging Space Challenges: The Benefits of a Responsible Cosmopolitan State Policy, Cham: Springer 2022, 13–28

The idea of a cosmopolitan responsible state (CRS) represents a recent attempt to reconcile the utopianism of cosmopolitan political theory and the practical constraints arising from the current realities of politics among territorial and largely self-interested states. I show in the chapter that the neorealist and/or geopolitical challenge rests on a misconception about what cosmopolitanism is meant to provide, because immediate practical advice is only a part of what normative political theory may bring to the table. Besides the notion of self-interest which can be interpreted in different ways, it is mainly the action-modifying role of norms (especially international/supranational law) which may gradually change the game. Since the sustenance of state capacities is often preconditioned by events which take place beyond state borders, shared rules of conduct allow for more effective coordination in cases where collective action is required. Although the idea of a CRS primarily targets foreign policy priorities of smaller/weaker states (not-great-powers), it may turn out that collective action problems arising from empirical realities of the 21st century increasingly put great powers under pressure to accept such self-imposed constraints and comply with them. In the final part of the paper, however, I explain why this ‘cosmopolitan optimism’ needs to be aware of its own limitations, singling out the problems of internal motivation of actors in world politics and the deeper meaning of sovereignty which precludes an easy switch to the language of dispersed, pooled, or relational sovereignty. I conclude by arguing that if we are to take cosmopolitan ideals seriously, the CRS most likely represents a transitional stage on the route towards a centralised global political authority.

Veřejný rozum a právo
(Public Reason and Law)
In: Tomáš Sobek, Martin Hapla a kol., Filosofie práva (Philosophy of Law). Nugis Finem, 2020, 227–254


Unpacking the Separation of Powers
In: Antonia Baraggia, Cristina Fasone, Luca Pietro Vanoni (eds.), New Challenges to the Separation of Powers. Edward Elgar, 2020, 123–142
As second author, with Jiří Baroš and David Kosař


Why a World State is Unavoidable in Planetary Defense: On Loopholes in the Vision of a Cosmopolitan Governance.
In: Nikola Schmidt (ed.), Planetary Defense: Global Collaboration for Defending Earth from Asteroids and Comets. Space and Society series, Springer, 2019, 375–399
DOI / LINK to the chapter and book at publisher's website: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01000-3_24




Normativita, fakticita a liberální projekt lidských práv: K možnostem morálního universalismu
(Normativity, Facticity, and the Liberal Project of Human Rights: On the Possibility of Moral Universalism)
In: Petr Agha (ed.), Lidská práva v mezikulturních perspektivách / Human Rights in Intercultural Perspectives. Praha: Academia, 2018, 57–75

(chapter before final minor corrections)


Debating democracy in East Central Europe: the issues and their origins
In: Jan Holzer, Miroslav Mareš et al., Challenges To Democracies in East Central Europe. Abingdon: Routledge, 2016, 15–35. Routledge Advances in European Politics vol. 127.
With Jan Holzer
LINK (Publisher's site)


Challenges to democracy in East Central European Politics: introductory remarks
In: Jan Holzer, Miroslav Mareš et al., Challenges To Democracies in East Central Europe. Abingdon: Routledge, 2016, 1–14,  Routledge Advances in European Politics vol. 127
With Jan Holzer and Miroslav Mareš
LINK (Publisher's site)


Islám a liberální demokracie: k podmínkám možnosti vzájemného soužití
(Islam and Liberal Democracy: towards the conditions of mutual coexistence)
In: Miroslav Mareš et al., Ne islámu: Protiislámská politika v České republice. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2015, 19–51
With Jiří Baroš and Oskar Varga



Filosofické prameny lidských práv
(Philosophical Origins of Human Rights)
In: Pavel Dufek, Hubert Smekal (eds.) Lidská práva v mezinárodní politice. Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2014, 27–56.
With Jiří Baroš



Lidská práva: základní pojmosloví
(Human Rights: Fundamental Issues)
In: Pavel Dufek, Hubert Smekal (eds.) Lidská práva v mezinárodní politice. Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2014, 57–86.
With Jiří Baroš



Teorie demokracie a politická filozofie: Úskalí demokratizace demokracií
(Theories of Democracy and Political Philosophy: Pitfalls of Democratization of Democracies).
In: Demokratizace a lidská práva: Středoevropské pohledy. 1. vyd. Brno - Praha: MUNI Press - SLON, 2013, 50–74

Teorie lidských práv
(Theory of Human Rights)
In: Demokratizace a lidská práva. Středoevropské pohledy. Brno - Praha: MUNI Press - SLON, 2013, 75–103
With Jiří Baroš