Willkürliche

Willkürliche is a German adjective derived from Willkür, meaning arbitrariness or arbitrary power. Used to describe actions, decisions, or powers that are governed by whim, personal preference, or unchecked authority rather than by established rules, criteria, or due process. In English, willkürliche is typically rendered as “arbitrary” or “arbitrary at will,” depending on context. The corresponding noun Willkür denotes arbitrariness, caprice, or tyranny.

In legal and political discourse, willkürliche measures are those lacking a legal basis, objective criteria, or transparent justification. They stand in contrast to rechtsstaatlichkeit, the rule of law, where state actions must be guided by statutes, principles, and due process. Willkür is widely regarded as illegitimate in modern democracies, and authorities are expected to refrain from discretionary acts that cannot be explained or checked by law. Common collocations include willkürliche Gewalt (arbitrary violence), willkürliche Entscheidungen (arbitrary decisions), and willkürliche Herrschaft (arbitrary rule).

Historically, the critique of arbitrary rule has been central to liberal and constitutional thought. From Enlightenment debates onward, philosophers argued that political power must be constrained by law to protect individual rights and avoid oppression. The development of constitutionalism, judicial review, and independent institutions seeks to limit willkür and promote predictable, accountable governance.

Etymologically, willkürliche reflects the German tendency to form abstract adjectives from Willkür and related nouns, producing terms that describe acts or conditions characterized by arbitrariness rather than by universal or lawful criteria.