Global Justice: A Cosmopolitan Account

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Paperback
2009
$38.61

Gillian Brock develops a viable cosmopolitan model of global justice that takes seriously the equal moral worth of persons, yet leaves scope for defensible forms of nationalism and for other legitimate identifications and affiliations people have. Brock addresses two prominent kinds of skeptic about global justice: those who doubt its feasibility and those who believe that cosmopolitanism interferes illegitimately with the defensible scope of nationalism by undermining goods of national importance, such as authentic democracy or national self-determination. The model addresses concerns about implementation in the world, showing how we can move from theory to public policy that makes progress toward global justice. It also makes clear how legitimate forms of nationalism are compatible with commitments to global justice. Global Justice is divided into three central parts. In the first, Brock defends a cosmopolitan model of global justice. In the second, which is largely concerned with public policy issues, she argues that there is much we can and should do toward achieving global justice. She addresses several pressing problems, discussing both theoretical and public policy issues involved with each. These include tackling global poverty, taxation reform, protection of basic liberties, humanitarian intervention, immigration, and problems associated with global economic arrangements. In the third part, she shows how the discussion of public policy issues can usefully inform our theorizing; in particular, it assists our thinking about the place of nationalism and equality in an account of global justice.

Synopsis

Gillian Brock develops a viable cosmopolitan model of global justice that takes seriously the equal moral worth of persons, yet leaves scope for defensible forms of nationalism and for other legitimate identifications and affiliations people have. Brock addresses two prominent kinds of skeptic about global justice: those who doubt its feasibility and those who believe that cosmopolitanism interferes illegitimately with the defensible scope of nationalism by undermining goods of national importance, such as authentic democracy or national self-determination. The model addresses concerns about implementation in the world, showing how we can move from theory to public policy that makes progress toward global justice. It also makes clear how legitimate forms of nationalism are compatible with commitments to global justice. Global Justice is divided into three central parts. In the first, Brock defends a cosmopolitan model of global justice. In the second, which is largely concerned with public policy issues, she argues that there is much we can and should do toward achieving global justice. She addresses several pressing problems, discussing both theoretical and public policy issues involved with each. These include tackling global poverty, taxation reform, protection of basic liberties, humanitarian intervention, immigration, and problems associated with global economic arrangements. In the third part, she shows how the discussion of public policy issues can usefully inform our theorizing; in particular, it assists our thinking about the place of nationalism and equality in an account of global justice.

$38.61

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 08 Jan 2009
ISBN 10: 0199230943
ISBN 13: 9780199230945

Media Reviews

Brock develops an account of justice that demands serious consideration as an alternative to accounts defending and employing Rawlsian principles. It is also an approach that is distinct from Thomas Pogge's human rights based approach, Peter Singer's utilitarianism, and David Miller's moderate nationalism. The book occupies then an important place in the range of philosophical positions taken on matters of global justice. In addition, its policy recommendations merit attention. Many will prove useful to practical efforts to advance the cause of justice globally... The breadth of research into policy debates is very impressive and a significant intellectual accomplishment. * Darrel Moellendorf, Journal of Global Ethics *
Gillian Brock's Global Justice is a welcome addition to the burgeoning literature on international ethics. For a number of years now, Brock has concentrated on this theoretically vexing and practically important area, and, as this book amply demonstrates, she is among the most sophisticated and informed theorists working on this topic. * Christopher Heath Wellman, Mind *
[An] important new book. * David Miller, Journal of Global Ethics *
an impressive and thought-provoking book ... It is a work of breathtaking ambition which does not shy away from, or deny, the complexities of public policy issues. * Geoffrey Cupit, Australasian Journal of Philosophy *
the central section of the book contains many ideas that perform a real service in dispelling unfounded doubts about both the feasibility and measurability of progress towards goals of global distributive justice... Brock's development of a 'democratic equality' variant of global egalitarianism is a worthwhile and welcome addition to a literature which has thus far concentrated largely on 'globalizing' egalitarian ideals such as the difference principle, fair equality of opportunity, or luck equality * Chris Armstrong, Journal of Global Ethics *
Brock has offered a wide-ranging treatment of important theoretical and practical issues that will be helpful to many of us who are interested in the topic... Brock has offered a tremendously valuable contribution to the literature on global justice... By integrating theoretical and practical concerns, she is bringing together two groups who do not often engage one another, an approach to the study of global justice that is well worth pursuing * Brodi Kemp, Ethics *
Gillian Brock's Global Justice: A Cosmopolitan Account should become a classic in the global justice literature... a brilliant book... clearly one of the most important works on global justice today. * Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy *
[an] excellent, well written and scholarly book * Len Doyal, Philosophical Quarterly *
a laudable attempt... to force philosophers and others to engage in a more productive discussion about the possibilities for a just global order... [this] book advances the discussion of global justice in a number of ways. * Janna Thompson, Philosophy in Review *
an informative, stimulating, and original read * Rekha Nath , Global Justice, Ethics and International Affairs *
a rich and complex monograph which seeks to contribute to the fast-growing literature on global justice... shows mastery of the relevant literature and contains important insights. * Laura Valentini, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice *
a fascinating and powerful work about what can and ought to be done to achieve a better future for our species * Joe Oppenheimer, Ethica Revista Internacional de Filofia da Moral *
the starting point of a new and interesting phase in the debates on global justice. * Idil Boran, Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review *
Brock's book offers a sustained, innovative and well-informed discussion of many issues that interest both normative political theorists and more policy-minded scholars... both to be imitated and applauded. The global justice debate is still finding its way between realism and utopia. But the search is now more complex and sophisticated than ever before. * Lea Ypi, Res Publica *
a well-organized, tightly argued book about the virtues of her theoretical, cosmopolitan mode of global justice * A.S. Rosenblum, Choice *
There is an increasing literature today on cosmopolitanism and global justice in the disciplines of philosophy and international relations. Global Justice: A Cosmopolitan Account consolidates and extends Gillian Brock's important contributions to this literature... Brock has gone a long way towards elucidating a cosmopolitan foundation for the norms of global justice. * Ethics & Global Politics *
Clearly Brock has been in pursuit of a powerful argument that has driven these individual studies, and in this book she brings them into an impressive synthesis... this impressive book is also a passionate one. * The Political Quarterly *
a pleasure to read - clearly written and carefully argued ... The scope of the project and the care with which it has been executed make this book one of teh most important recent contributions to this most important topic. * Clark Wolf, Political Studies Review *

Author Bio

Gillian Brock is Associate Professor in Philosophy at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She has co-edited or edited three recent anthologies in the field: Current Debates in Global Justice (with Darrel Moellendorf, Springer, 2005), The Political Philosophy of Cosmopolitanism (with Harry Brighouse, Cambridge, 2005), and Necessary Goods: Our Responsibilities to Meet Others' Needs (Rowman and Littlefield, 1998). She has published many articles on Global Justice and related fields.