Social Justice: Cultural Origins of a Perspective and a Theory

In: The independent review: journal of political economy, Band 15, Heft 2, S. 165-178

Abstract

Explores the historical context of the currently accepted concept of social justice & the origins of social justice advocates' assumptions & commitments to indicate how cultural influences inform policy making. It is contended that a broadly Rawlsian perspective on social justice became prevalent in the late 20th century as a function of the rise of a mass-consumption economy & the adoption of the civil rights movement as a social relations framework. John Rawls's A Theory of Justice (1971) is seen as advancing a broad ideological orientation produced by those historical experiences. Each historical experience is described, & Rawls's theory is examined. Attention is also given to how the Rawlsian approach, which is deemed highly debatable, was accepted by many as a basic assumption beyond debate.