Why Social Justice Matters

While social injustice has been increasing the idea of social justice has beenundermined by unfounded appeals to personal responsibility and equalopportunity. T... » 

While social injustice has been increasing the idea of social justice has beenundermined by unfounded appeals to personal responsibility and equalopportunity. These have been employed as an excuse for doing nothing about theenrichment of the few at the expense of the many and for making ever harsherdemands on the poor and vulnerable. With grace and wit Brian Barry exposes theshoddy logic and distortion of reality that underpins this ideology. Once weunderstand the role of the social structure in limiting options we have torecognize that really putting into practice ideas such as equal opportunity andpersonal responsibility would require a fundamental transformation of almostall existing institutions.Barry argues that only if inequalities of wealth andincome are kept within a narrow range can equal prospects for education healthand autonomy be realized. He proposes a number of policies to achieve a moreequal society and argues that they are economically feasible. But are theypolitically possible? The apparent stability of the status quo is delusory heresponds radical changes in our way of life are unavoidable. Whether thesechanges are for better or for worse depends partly on the availability of acoherent set of principles and a programme flowing from them that is capable ofmobilizing the growing discontent with business as usual. That is ultimatelywhy social justice matters. «