<b>Relational Electrodynamics:</b>Deriving Maxwell’s Equations and the Speed of Light from Unified Relational Dynamics

<b>Abstract</b><br>This paper presents Relational Electrodynamics (RE), a first-principles derivation of electromagnetism from relational structure. Electromagnetic fields emerge directly from relational constraints rather than imposed axioms, and Maxwell’s equations appear as structural identities. The speed of light c arises as the ratio of hyper-frequency to hyper-wavenumber, with frequency defined as the drift rate of relational patterns in Hyper-Time. Vacuum response is encoded through relational permittivity (ε₀) and permeability (μ₀). Gauge invariance emerges as a redundancy of relational description rather than an external postulate. Energy conservation follows as a flow of relational energy, yielding a generalized expression for electromagnetic energy flux. The framework reproduces the observed constancy of light speed under ordinary conditions, while allowing for deviations in extreme or non-coherent regimes—such as dispersion, anisotropy, or environment-dependent drift below current sensitivity. Existing data are fully consistent with the theory, and future tests offer clear criteria for falsification, anchoring the proposal in empirical science. Relational Electrodynamics is introduced as the first component of Unified Relational Dynamics (URD), demonstrating the viability of a relational approach to physics and mathematics and establishing a foundation for rethinking physical law from first principles.<br><br><b>Plain-language summary</b><br>This paper puts forward a fundamental new way of looking at physics. Instead of assuming electricity, magnetism, and the speed of light as starting points, it shows how they can be derived from first principles, from the very structure of relationships in nature. Maxwell’s equations and the constancy of light speed appear as natural consequences of these deeper rules, not as separate postulates. The result is a framework that both reproduces known science and predicts where tiny deviations could be found in extreme conditions. This marks the first step in building a unified, relational foundation for all of physics, opening the door to rethinking physical law at its most basic level.