Globalization and Global Justice Shrinking Distance, Expanding Obligations

The face of the world is changing. The past century has seen the incredible growth of international institutions. How does the fact that the world is becoming more interconnected change institutions' duties to people beyond borders? Does globalization alone engender any ethical obligations? In Globalization and Global Justice, Nicole Hassoun addresses these questions and advances a new argument for the conclusion that there are significant obligations to the global poor. First, she argues that there are many coercive international institutions and that these institutions must provide the means for their subjects to avoid severe poverty. Hassoun then considers the case for aid and trade, and concludes with a new proposal for fair trade in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Globalization and Global Justice will appeal to readers in philosophy, politics, economics and public policy.

Part I: Introduction: globalization and global justice; 1. The human rights argument; 2. The coercive global institutional system; 3. Legitimacy and global justice; Part II: Introduction to Part II: seeing the water for the sea; 4. Libertarian obligations to the poor?; 5. Empirical evidence and the case for foreign aid; 6. Free trade and poverty; 7. Making free trade fair; Conclusion: expanding obligations.

This book considers the case for free trade and foreign aid in light of a new argument for significant obligations to the global poor, and concludes with a new proposal for fair trade in pharmaceutical and biotechnology. Suitable for those interested in economics, political science and public policy.

Nicole Hassoun is Assistant Professor in Philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University. Her articles appear in journals such as American Philosophical Quarterly, The European Journal of Philosophy, the Critical Review of Social and Political Philosophy, The Journal of Applied Ethics, Public Affairs Quarterly, Environmental Ethics, the Journal of Moral Philosophy, The American Journal of Bioethics and Utilitas.