Social justice and public policy: Seeking fairness in diverse societies

by Gary Craig (Editor), Tania Burchardt (Editor), David Gordon (Editor)

Overview

Social justice is a contested term, incorporated into the language of widely differing political positions. Those on the left argue that it requires intervention from the state to ensure equality, at least of opportunity; those on the right believe that it can be underpinned by the economics of the market place with little or no state intervention. To date, political philosophers have made relatively few serious attempts to explain how a theory of social justice translates into public policy.

This important book, drawing on international experience and a distinguished panel of political philosophers and social scientists, addresses what the meaning of social justice is, and how it translates into the everyday concerns of public and social policy, in the context of both multiculturalism and globalisation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781861349330
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	06/18/2008
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Gary Craig is Professor of Social Justice at the University of Hull and Associate Director of the Wilberforce Institute for the study of Slavery and Emancipation. His research focuses on 'race' and ethnicity, poverty and local governance. He is President of the International Association for Community Development.

Tania Burchardt is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research interests include theories of social justice, measurement of equality, and welfare and employment policy.

David Gordon is Professor of Social Justice at the University of Bristol and Director of the Townsend Centre for International Poverty Research. His research interests include social and distributional justice, social harm, scientific measurement of poverty, child poverty and human rights, childhood disability, crime and poverty, area-based anti-poverty measures, the causal effects of poverty on ill health, and rural poverty.

Table of Contents

Introduction ~ Tania Burchardt and Gary Craig; Social justice and public policy: a view from political philosophy ~ Jonathan Wolff; Social justice and public policy: a social policy perspective ~ David Piachaud; Multiculturalism, social justice and the welfare state ~ Will Kymlicka; Structural injustice and the politics of difference ~ Iris Marion Young; Recognition and voice: the challenge for social justice ~ Ruth Lister; Globalisation, social justice and the politics of aid ~ Christopher Bertram; Social justice and the family ~ Harry Brighouse and Adam Swift; Children, policy and social justice ~ David Gordon; Social justice in the UK: one route or four? ~ Katie Schmuecker; Monitoring inequality: putting the capability approach to work ~ Tania Burchardt; The limits of compromise? Social justice,' race' and multiculturalism ~ Gary Craig; Understanding environmental justice: making the connection between sustainable development and social justice ~ Maria Adebowale.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Too often, debates concerning social justice neglect the gap between political philosophy and policy studies. As both an overview of, and an intervention into, those debates this timely book bridges that gap." Dr Tony Fitzpatrick, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham

Parekh's testimonial in reviews

Editorial Reviews

"...this is a sobering and challenging book.....

makes a strong case for social policy to play an extensive role in promoting social justice." Nick Axford, British Journal of Social Work Vol 38:8

"An impressive collection of uniformly high-quality essays throwing new light on some of the important aspects of social justice. Its attempt to marry theoretical and policy perspectives, and to combine analytical rigour with moral commitment, adds greatly to its value." Bhikhu Parekh, Professor of Political Philosophy, University of Westminster

"Too often, debates concerning social justice neglect the gap between political philosophy and policy studies. As both an overview of, and an intervention into, those debates this timely book bridges that gap." Dr Tony Fitzpatrick, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham

Parekh's testimonial in reviews

From the Publisher