Global Justice

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 byundermining 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 ofnationalism 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, humanitarianintervention, 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 globaljustice.

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., 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., [An] important new book., 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., 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

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 manyarticles on Global Justice and related fields.