Mechanisms of Popular Participation in the Consolidation and Collapse of Despotism: A Comparative Analysis of the Views of Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi and John Locke

Political despotism is one of the most significant challenges of governance in human history and is reproduced not only through institutional structures and the exercise of coercive power, but also through social mechanisms and popular participation. The role of the people in this process is dual: through silence and passivity, they may contribute to the consolidation of despotism, or through awareness and resistance, they may bring about its collapse. The purpose of this study is to comparatively analyze the mechanisms of popular participation in the emergence and decline of political despotism from the perspectives of Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi and John Locke. The present research was conducted using a qualitative approach and a comparative analysis method, with data collected through documentary research and content analysis of the works of the two thinkers. The findings indicate that in Locke’s theory, tacit consent functions as a form of passive legitimation of despotism, and the transition to the right of resistance occurs when citizens become aware of the systematic violation of their natural rights. In al-Kawakibi’s theory, public ignorance, collective fear, and the complicity of elites constitute the three principal mechanisms of despotism’s stabilization, while its decline requires the elevation of awareness, the strengthening of rationality, and peaceful struggle. Points of convergence between the two thinkers include an emphasis on collective responsibility, opposition to ideological distortion, and the central role of enlightenment; however, the main divergence lies in their strategies, as Locke emphasizes the right of resistance and revolution, whereas al-Kawakibi stresses gradual cultural reform. The results of the study demonstrate that freedom is an achievement attained through awareness, responsibility, and the active participation of citizens.