Types of Justice (DP IB Global Politics: HL): Revision Note

Egalitarian justice

• Egalitarianism is the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities

• Justice means receiving fair treatment

• Egalitarian justice has a long history in Western philosophy

• Arguments against egalitarian justice consider that it is sometimes better for the good of society for some individuals to have more opportunities

  • It is better to spend public money on the higher education of academically-talented students because they bring the most benefit to society in the long-run

  • It is better to prioritise young, healthy people to receive organ transplants over older, less healthy people who may die sooner

• However, political philosopher John Rawls, well-known for advocating egalitarian justice, would disagree

  • He argued that just principles should be designed from behind a veil of ignorance – imagining that you do not know your own position in society (your wealth, race, gender or ability)

  • From this position, no one would choose a system that favours some people over others, because they might end up on the losing side

  • Therefore, all individuals deserve equal opportunities and treatment, regardless of their value to society

  • Measuring a person's worth by what they contribute is morally wrong, because justice must apply to everyone equally

Cosmopolitan justice

• 'Cosmopolitan' means understanding people from around the world

  • Cosmopolitan justice expands upon the ideas of egalitarian justice but moves moral obligation to the international level

  • All people must be working toward justice for every person on earth

• The United Nations supports the view of cosmopolitan justice through global governance

• Global political issues and challenges are interconnected and interdependent, so all people have a moral obligation to help others in crisis

  • In recent years increasing numbers of people have been forced to leave their home states and special care for is needed for all displaced people

  • States, IGOs and NGOs must provide equal care and attention to anyone in need

  • Universal human rights must be a priority

  • Justice for people, not states, is most important and should be the focus of those with political power

Ecological justice

• Ecological refers to the interdependent nature of all living things on earth and their relationship with the natural world

• Due to the interconnected nature of the natural world, the future of this planet relies not just on justice for humans

  • We are morally obliged to pursue justice on behalf of lifeforms that cannot advocate for themselves, including animals and plant life

• The race for economic development has led many societies to become less concerned about the natural environment, causing a severe environmental crisis, which includes:

  • mass extinction of species

  • cruel animal farming practices which are also unhealthy for humans 

  • destruction of forests

  • climate change

  • severe drought and floods

• Ultimately, justice for non-human life forms will benefit humans as well in the long-run and should be the top priority for all people