Social Justice and Alternatives to Capitalism

Description

What type of social system does social justice require? Is it compatible with capitalism? Does it require a form of socialism? Or must we move beyond existing models and explore hypothetical alternatives, such as a property-owning democracy? This module explores these and other related questions through the lens of recent theories of social justice.     We will begin by introducing key concepts through the lens of John Rawls’s influential theory of justice before examining his surprising rejection of capitalism in his later work. The first half of the course will be devoted to critically engaging with recent defences of Rawls’s two preferred alternatives to capitalism – a ‘property-owning democracy’ and ‘liberal socialism’ – and recent defences of two more familiar types of social system the later Rawls rejected: welfare-state capitalism and laissez-faire capitalism. We will link each regime-type to more familiar policy-level demands in contemporary politics, such as predistribution, workplace democracy, social insurance, and privatisation.    The second half of the course will examine several applied issues of justice that are somewhat overlooked by the framing of recent debates about systems of ownership and control. For example, what role should public ownership play in a just economy? Does justice require a universal basic income? How should care work be organised to ensure gender justice? Do existing proposals remain compatible with troubling forms of corporate power, and, if so, how is this best combatted? Must existing proposals be supplemented by reparative measures to ensure racial justice?    Each week, there will be a 50-minute lecture followed by a 50-minute seminar. The lecture will provide an overview of the week’s topic and the literature that surrounds it. In the seminar, you will discuss the topic in depth with your peers. You will be expected to read around three articles or chapters for each seminar.    By the end of the module, you should:    Have a good understanding of a selection of key contemporary works that apply theories of social justice to issues of policy and institutional design. Be able to apply normative theoretical considerations to practical issues of public concern and evaluate existing normative arguments for and against various institutional and policy choices. Have developed their ability to form philosophical arguments and communicate those arguments both orally and in writing.