Category: Legal Theory

In David Held’s article, ”Democracy: From City-States to a Cosmopolitan Order?”, he argues that globalization — the growth of complex economic interconnections among states and societies — has produced, and reproduces, both a hierarchy and unevenness in society.  Hierarchy, he explains, ”denotes the structure of economic globalization: its domination by those constellations of economic power… Continue reading Globalization and the Reproduction of Hierarchy and Unevenness

In an important sense, we are our current stock of narratives, and they us.  We subscribe to a stock of explanatory scripts, plots, narratives, and understandings that enable us to make sense of -to contrast- our social world.  Because we then live in that world, it begins to shape and determine us, who we are,… Continue reading Reproduction of the Narrative

In Jurgen Habermas’ article, ”Citizenship and National Identity: Some Reflections on the Future of Europe”, he examines the relationship of Capitalism and democratic citizenship.  He believes that the market has its own independent logic that is separate and independent of the intentions of its human subjects/citizens. (294).  We can see the free market hasn’t necessarily… Continue reading Habermas on Capitalism and Citizenship

Brian Barry, in his article, ”Humanity and Justice in Global Perspective”1, states that both justice and humanity compel wealth transfers to distressed states and people.  Humanity, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary is a ”disposition to treat human beings and animals with consideration and compassion and to relieve their distresses; kindness, benevolence.”  Most of… Continue reading Humane and Just Wealth Redistribution