Editor's introduction: Special issue—Rawls at 100; Theory at 50.

This article provides an overview of John Rawls' work in political philosophy, particularly his book "A Theory of Justice," and its relevance to contemporary political and constitutional crises. It discusses the challenges faced by liberal democratic societies in the 21st century and argues for the continued importance of Rawls' ideas. The article also mentions other works by Rawls and ongoing scholarly discussions on his contributions to political philosophy. It concludes by outlining the topics covered in a special issue of the Journal of Social Philosophy, including voting regulations, welfare state capitalism, property-owning democracy, liberal democratic socialism, and the distinction between ideal and nonideal theory. The text offers a comprehensive analysis of Rawls' ideas, presenting different perspectives and addressing objections and alternative viewpoints. [Extracted from the article]