Global Justice: An Introduction (Key Concepts)

Global justice has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Whilst half of the worlds population continue to live on less than $2 per day, there are growing demands for a world where democracy, development and security are permanent features in all our lives.

In this new book, Jon Mandle explores the meaning of global justice and provides students with an accessible introduction to the core concepts and debates in the field. Global justice, he explains, requires universal respect for basic human rights. These rights belong to each and every one of us, and they can be used to guide policy-making in areas such as humanitarian intervention, global poverty, and secession.

Emphasizing the importance of legitimate political institutions for protecting basic rights and ensuring self-determination, Mandle sets out concrete reforms which would protect core human rights internationally. He explains but ultimately rejects theories which assert that no principles of justice apply globally or that the same principles apply both domestically and globally. Instead, Mandle develops and defends his own unique account of global justice, inspired by the work of John Rawls.

Global Justice will be of interest to students of philosophy, political science, international relations, sociology, globalization, and anyone reflecting on the importance of justice across borders.

Jon Mandle is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Albany (State University of New York).