Structural Injustice

Madison Powers and Ruth Faden develop an innovative theory of structural injustice that links human rights norms and fairness norms, grounded in an account of well-being. It explains how human rights violations and structurally unfair patterns of power and advantage are often interconnected, and rejects the claim that its central claims must be universally endorsable. Instead, it focuses on justifiable forms of resistance in circumstances in which institutions are unwilling or unable to address pressing problems of injustice.

Format: Paperback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Madison Powers and Ruth Faden present an innovative theory of structural injustice, which establishes a connection between human rights norms and fairness norms. These norms are grounded in an account of well-being, providing the foundation for human rights, explaining the depth of unfairness in systematic patterns of disadvantage, and identifying the unfairness of power relations in the control some groups exercise over the well-being of others. Powers and Faden elucidate how human rights violations and structurally unfair power and advantage are often interconnected. Unlike theories of structural injustice tailored for largely benign social processes, their theory addresses typical patterns of structural injustice, where the wrongful conduct of identifiable agents creates or sustains mutually reinforcing forms of injustice. These patterns exist both within nation-states and across national boundaries. However, this theory does not require its central claims to be universally endorsable. Instead, Powers and Faden find support for their theory through examples of structural injustice across the world and in the insights and perspectives of related social movements. Their theory departs from approaches that prioritize enhanced democratic decision-making or the global extension of republican institutions as proposed remedies. Instead, it focuses on justifiable forms of resistance in circumstances where institutions are unwilling or unable to address pressing problems of injustice. The insights developed in Structural Injustice will interest scholars and students in a range of disciplines, including political philosophy, sociology, and social policy.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 235 x 155 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197744895