Power Differential Principle

A Systems Thinking Approach to Human Rights Advocacy ABSTRACT: This article introduces the Power Differential Principle, a systems-based approach to human rights advocacy derived from the Systems Thinking Framework (STF). It argues that advocacy should be directed toward actors whose agency is threatened by determinant systems they cannot effectively resist rather than by ideology, identity, or political affiliation. Drawing on STF’s concepts of determinant and contributory systems, dynamicity, and the relationship among work, energy, and time, the article develops a framework for identifying vulnerability through systems mapping and variable mapping. By treating vulnerability as a relational and event-specific condition, the Power Differential Principle offers a dynamic methodology for assessing rights violations and remediations and guiding advocacy under changing social conditions. ___________ Information: ARTICLE: The Power Differential Principle (Download) AUTHOR: Ahmed E. Souaiaia, Ph.D. AFFILIATION: University of Iowa, USA KEYWORDS: Systems Thinking; Human Rights Advocacy; Power Differential Principle; Vulnerability; Determinant Systems CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The author declares no competing interests. FUNDING: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency. Citing It: Souaiaia, Ahmed E. “The Power Differential Principle.” HUQUQ Journal, June 2026. LICENSE: © 2026 Ahmed E. Souaiaia. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution—Non Commercial 4.0 International License.