“This House Believes the Social Contract Is Fraying at the Edges"

Is the invisible agreement that binds citizen and state beginning to unravel?

Join us for a gripping debate where we tackle one of the most pressing questions of our time: Has the social contract—the foundational promise of mutual obligation between the individual and society—begun to falter under modern pressures?

For centuries, the idea of the social contract has underpinned Western political thought, shaping everything from democratic ideals to our expectations of government. But today, rising inequality, distrust in institutions, mass protests, digital surveillance, and democratic backsliding raise urgent questions. Are governments still delivering on their end of the bargain? Are citizens still willing to uphold theirs?

In this intellectual showdown:

• Proponents will argue that the social contract has become threadbare, pointing to a breakdown in trust, widening social divides, and systemic failures in healthcare, education, and justice.

• Opponents will counter that the contract is evolving, not eroding—and that citizens have more tools than ever to shape their societies.

Whether you’re a legal philosopher, political sceptic, or just curious about how society holds together, this is not a debate to miss.

🔍 Come challenge assumptions, reimagine governance, and ask: What do we owe to each other—and is that promise still being kept?