GLOBAL JUSTICE
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: LUIGI CARANTIExpected Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Understand key philosophical theories of justice applied to the global context.
- Critically assess normative arguments related to global inequality, aid, and responsibility.
- Apply philosophical reasoning to current global issues.
- Engage in academic discussion and write analytical essays on global justice.
Course Structure
Teaching will take place through presentations of the syllabus topics by students and concurrent critical discussion of the material presented with the instructor and other students. The presentation schedule will be agreed upon with students at the first meeting.
Required Prerequisites
Basic background in moral and political philosophy
Attendance of Lessons
Attendance is mandatory. The maximum permitted absence is 30% of the total.
Detailed Course Content
This course explores normative questions about justice beyond national borders. We will engage with major philosophical theories of global justice and examine topics such as global inequality, poverty, human rights, climate justice, migration, global institutions, and historical injustice. The course draws on both classic texts and recent debates in political theory, philosophy, and international ethics
Textbook Information
Required Reading (Main Texts)
- Pogge, Thomas (2008). World Poverty and Human Rights. Polity Press.
- Singer, Peter (2009). The Life You Can Save. Random House.
- Nussbaum, Martha (2011). Creating Capabilities. Harvard University Press.
- Rawls, John (1999). The Law of Peoples. Harvard University Press.
- Beitz, Charles (1999). Political Theory and International Relations. Princeton University Press.
- Tan, Kok-Chor (2017). What is this thing called Global Justice? Routledge.
Supplementary Readings
- Young, Iris Marion (2006). Responsibility for Justice. Oxford University Press.
- Fraser, Nancy & Honneth, Axel (2003). Redistribution or Recognition? Verso.
- Okin, Susan Moller (1999). Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? Princeton.
- Caney, Simon (2005). Justice Beyond Borders. Oxford University Press.
- Brock, Gillian (2009). Global Justice: A Cosmopolitan Account. Oxford.
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Pogge | World Poverty and Human Rights | Polity Press | 2008 | |
| Peter Singer | The Life You Can Save | Random House | 2009 | |
| Martha Nussbaum | Creating Capabilities | Harvard University Press | 2011 | |
| John Rawls | The Law of Peoples | Harvard University Press | 1999 | |
| Charles Beitz | Political Theory and International Relations | Princeton University Press | 1999 | |
| Kok-Chor Tan | What is this thing called Global Justice? | Routledge | 2017 |
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Why Global Justice? | Tan, What is this thing called Global Justice?, Ch. 1 |
| 2 | Global vs. Domestic Justice | Rawls, The Law of Peoples, Introduction & Part I Beitz, Political Theory and International Relations, Ch. 1–2 |
| 3 | Cosmopolitanism and Statism | Pogge, World Poverty and Human Rights, Ch. 1–2 Tan, Ch. 2–3 |
| 4 | Human Rights and Global Institutions | Pogge, Ch. 4, 7 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) |
| 5 | Moral Duties Toward the Global Poor | Singer, The Life You Can Save, Ch. 1–3 |
| 6 | Global Poverty as Structural Injustice | Pogge, Ch. 5–6 Iris Marion Young, Responsibility for Justice, Ch. 2 |
| 7 | Aid, Charity, and Obligation | Singer, Ch. 4–6 Peter Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” |
| 8 | Capabilities and Development | Nussbaum, Creating Capabilities, Ch. 1–3 |
| 9 | Mid-Semester Review | In-class discussion; no new readings |
| 10 | Climate Justice | Caney, “Cosmopolitan Justice, Responsibility, and Global Climate Change” Supplement: IPCC Summary for Policymakers (excerpts) |
| 11 | Migration and Borders | Carens, Joseph, “Aliens and Citizens: The Case for Open Borders” Miller, David, “Immigration: The Case for Limits” |
| 12 | Trade and Fairness | Pogge, Ch. 8 Stiglitz, Joseph, Fair Trade for All (excerpts) |
| 13 | Gender and Global Justice | “Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?” Nussbaum, Ch. 6 |
| 14 | Colonialism and Historical Injustice | A. Srinivasan, “The Aptness of Anger” (excerpt) Fanon, Frantz, The Wretched of the Earth (selections) |
| 15 | Cosmopolitan Democracy and Global Governance | Reading: Held, David, “Democracy and Globalization” Archibugi, Daniele, “The Global Commonwealth of Citizens” |
| 16 | Global Justice and Public Health | , “Human Rights and Global Health: A Research Program” Gostin, L.O., “Global Health Law” (excerpts) |
| 17 | Case Study Discussion | TBA |
| 18 | Final discussion : Is Global Justice Possible? | Tan, Ch. 6 + Review session |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The course presupposes active participation.
Students are expected to read the material assigned for a class before the
class itself takes place. Students will also be requested, individually or with
other students, to present one topic. The schedule of presentations will be
determined on the first day of the seminar.
Assessment
- Participation: 30%
- Presentation: 30%
- Final oral exam: 40% (no written exam possible)
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
In che modo Pogge fonda la normatività dei diritti umani?
Quali sono gli argomenti a favore o contro l'esistenza di una dimensione globale della giustizia?
Puoi definire la nozione di "capacità"? Perché è importante per la teoria della giustizia, nazionale o globale?
Puoi riassumere la posizione del "confine aperto" nell'etica della migrazione?