Description
Book SynopsisMadison Powers and Ruth Faden here develop an innovative theory of structural injustice that links human rights norms and fairness norms. Norms of both kinds are grounded in an account of well-being. Their well-being account provides the foundation for human rights, explains the depth of unfairness of systematic patterns of disadvantage, and locates the unfairness of power relations in forms of control some groups have over the well-being of other groups. They explain how human rights violations and structurally unfair patterns of power and advantage are so often interconnected. Unlike theories of structural injustice tailored for largely benign social processes, Powers and Faden''s theory addresses typical patterns of structural injustice-those in which the wrongful conduct of identifiable agents creates or sustains mutually reinforcing forms of injustice. These patterns exist both within nation-states and across national boundaries. However, this theory rejects the claim that for a
Trade Reviewa profound and fascinating essay on the structural injustices shaking our times... genuinely a philosophical essay. Yet one of its most significant merits is that it is written for various audiences, including researchers in bioethics and public health ethics, political philosophers, journalists, and activists. * Ryoa Chung, Hastings Center Report *
This is an urgently needed book. Madison Powers and Ruth Faden have constructed a powerfully reasoned, deeply learned, and richly perceptive theory that places the problem of structural injustice at the heart of political philosophy... The authors make conceptual breakthroughs that open new perspectives on old debates, and they write with authority and clarity on every issue they address. Their discussion is filled with wisdom and discernment, informed by a deep understanding of philosophical and social science literatures. I hope this book influences scholars, activists, policymakers, and the public at large; it should be widely studied and discussed, its arguments and insights put to productive use. * Jamie Mayerfeld, Ethics and International Affairs *
The notion of 'structural injustice' is now commonplace among academics and activists, but this book is rare in giving it a rigorous philosophical elucidation, tying it to human rights violations, unfair disadvantage, and unfair power relations. It is a book richly informed by contemporary philosophical debates, yet written in a clear and accessible style with plenty of references to real-world examples. And it is attentive to the global dimension of the structural injustices that disfigure the contemporary world. It is a model of what philosophy that is engaged with realworld problems can be. * John Tasioulas, University of Oxford *
Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Structural Injustice 1.2 Plan of the Chapters Chapter 2: Well-Being 2.1. The place of well-being in our theory 2.2. The Socratic and structural dependence arguments 2.3. The core elements 2.4. A decent human life 2.5. An alternative to universal endorsement approaches to justification 2.6. Three implications of the roles of our conception of well-being Chapter 3: What justice is 3.1. Moral importance and stringency 3.2. Claimability and specificity 3.3. Rightful enforceability 3.4. Unfairness norms Chapter 4: what structural injustice is 4.1. Significant impacts, structural components, and social groups 4.2. Social structural components and their systematic influence 4.3. Power, advantage, and social position 4.4. Background assumptions Chapter 5: Well-being ad human rights 5.1. The function of rights 5.2. Dignity and well-being interests 5.3. The social functions of human rights 5.4. Counterpart duties and general responsibilities: a pragmatic approach Chapter 6: The Responsibility of States 6.1. The normative uniqueness of state agency and its implications 6.2. The Strong Statist Challenge 6.3. National self-determination arguments 6.4. The Principle of Interstate Reciprocity 6.5. The power of non-State institutions in the current global order Chapter 7: Real-World Examples 7.1. National sacrifice zones: from Appalachia to Warren County 7.2. The globalization of sacrifice zones 7.3. Segregated cities: "two societies,EL separate and unequal" 7.4. Urban 'slums': the proliferation of informal human settlements Chapter 8: Resistance to injustice: activism and social movements 8.1. Individual responsibility in a nearly just society 8.2. Means and goals of resistance in less ideal circumstances 8.3. Targets of resistance: contributors and beneficiaries 8.4. Conclusion: well-being and social movements Bibliography
