WHY SOCIAL JUSTICE MATTERS by Brian Barry ( 9780745629926 ) - Books & Audio Books at Pickabook.co.uk

Item Details

Title:

WHY SOCIAL JUSTICE MATTERS

By:

Format:

Hardback

List price:	£60.00
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ISBN 10:

074562992X

ISBN 13:

9780745629926

Publisher:

POLITY PRESS

Pub. date:

1 January, 2005

Pages:

336

Description:

Sets out this prize-winnng author's vision of what social justice means, explaining why it must have universal scope or is worth nothing. Strongly attacks New Labour, as well as most contemporary political philosophy.

Synopsis:

In the past twenty years, social injustice has increased enormously in Britain and the United States, regardless of the party in power. At the same time, the idea of social justice itself has been subverted, as the mantras of personal responsibility and equal opportunity have been employed as an excuse for doing nothing about the enrichment of the few at the expense of the many and for making ever harsher demands on the poor and vulnerable. With grace and wit, Brian Barry exposes the shoddy logic and distortion of reality that underpins this ideology. Once we understand the role of the social structure in limiting options, we have to recognize that really putting into practice ideas such as equal opportunity and personal responsibility would require a fundamental transformation of almost all existing institutions. Barry argues that only if inequalities of wealth and income are kept within a narrow range can equal prospects for education, health and autonomy be realized. He proposes a number of policies to achieve a more equal society and argues that they are economically feasible. But are they politically possible? The apparent stability of the status quo is delusory, he responds: radical changes in our way of life are unavoidable. Whether these changes are for better or for worse depends partly on the availability of a coherent set of principles and a programme flowing from them that is capable of mobilizing the growing discontent with business as usual. That is, ultimately, why social justice matters.

Publication:

Imprint:

Polity Press

Returns:

Returnable

Some other items by this author:

CULTURE AND EQUALITY