Synopses & Reviews
What obligations do wealthy people have to ensure that the world's poor achieve a quality of life that is recognizably human? This is the fundamental question of international distributive justice and one that has only been seriously debated in the last twenty-five years. This highly informative work analyzes the relative merits of the core moral perspectives framing the debates, including the universalist, nationalist, patriotism, and relativist. It presents an engaging argument for universal basic human rights, making it an ideal resource for anyone interested in political theory, philosophy, international relations, development studies, and moral philosophy.
Review
"[Jones's] book is a well-argued and effective defence of a plausible, though demanding, position about our duties of justice in global society."--Canadian Journal of Political Science
"Jones provides the best overview of the Anglo-American version of this debate currently available; he sets out all the main positions with great clarity, and develops his own ideas....this is an excellent book."--Journal of International Studies
"The arguments of Global Justice persuade us to act differently in ways that would make a difference-significant to ourselves, life-and-death to many others. Throughout a long, intricate and often ingenious argument, Jones steers his preferred vision of cosmopolitanism through the many thickets and marshes of current philosophical debate."--David West, Ethics
"...an admirable book that will bring any reader up to speed on the debates prior to 2000 and provide sufficient background to engage with current debates."--International Criminal Justice Review
About the Author
Charles Jones is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Table of Contents
1. Distributive Justice and the International Context
PART 1. COSMOPOLITANISM
2. Utilitarianism and Global Justice
3. Basic Human Rights: The Moral Minimum
4. O'Neil and the Obligations of Justice
PART 2. COMMUNITARIANISM
5. Patriotism and Justice
6. Miller, Nationalism, and Distributive Justice
7. Relativism, Universalism, and Walzer
8. Neo-Hegelianism, Sovereignty, and Rights
Conclusion