Rechte

Rechte is the plural form of Recht in German and can denote several related concepts. Primarily it refers to entitlements or claims that individuals possess under law or morality, i.e., rights. In this sense, Rechte encompasses civil rights, human rights, property rights, contractual rights and other legally recognized claims. Rights may be universal, as in human rights proclaimed by international law, or specific to a jurisdiction, such as constitutional or statutory rights. Rights provide a framework that restricts state and private power and obligates others to respect or provide certain freedoms or protections, for example the right to due process, freedom of expression, equality before the law, or property ownership. Rights can be limited or balanced by competing rights or public interest, through legal processes and proportionality tests.

The concept of Rechte has deep philosophical roots in natural law and social contract theories, contrasting with positive rights created by laws or institutions. Internationally, human rights are articulated in frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and regional instruments; enforcement varies by jurisdiction.

In political discourse, the term die Rechte refers to the political right as an ideological current. In German-language media and scholarship, it designates conservative, nationalist, or right-wing positions and parties within a given political system, distinct from the left (die Linke).

Etymologically, Recht means law, justice, or entitlement, and Rechte as its plural highlights multiple, claim-based matters that individuals or groups may hold in relation to others or the state.