Political Studies Review: 2013 Vol 11, 228–310
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bs_bs_banner POLITICAL STUDIES REVIEW: 2013 VOL 11, 228–310 Book Reviews Political Theory Sovereign Justice: Global Justice in a World of distinction between global and statist (national) egali- Nations by Diogo P. Aurelio, Gabriele De Angelis tarianism. Another argues strikingly for the ideal of and Regina Queiroz (eds). Berlin: De Gruyter, equality of opportunity at the global level (Loriaux), 2011. 250pp., £99.95, ISBN 978311024573 while admitting that such a concept ‘has difficulty accommodating cultural differences’. Analysing in a timely fashion the new concept of Yet even if one could formulate a rational theory of global justice, this small edited book spells out coher- global justice starting from a few deontological princi- ently what it entails politically and economically. The ples, the practicality of implementation remains uncer- separate contributions by scholars with roots in either tain, both economically and politically. This book continental European or Anglo-Saxon political phi- touches upon this problem of feasibility of global justice. losophy are most informative about this rapidly evolv- ing debate on the desirability of global justice Jan-Erik Lane institutions or policies. (University of Freiburg) There are two basic difficulties involved here that the adherents of global justice in this volume struggle with. Perfecting Justice in Rawls, Habermas and First, we have reasonableness. If justice amounts to – Honneth: A Deconstructive Perspective by what the great Roman lawyers already recognised – Miriam Bankovsky. London: Continuum, 2012. giving each and everyone his/her due, then we face the 250pp., £65.00, ISBN 978 1441 1954 18 complicated question: what should a global citizen rea- sonably claim – respect, human rights, economic Miriam Bankovsky offers the canon an insightful and support, strict equality? I would be inclined to scepti- detailed account of the notion of deconstructive justice cism as to the feasibility of the radical demand for a which guides her analysis of Rawls, Habermas and global difference principle à la Rawls. Honneth through the adaptation of Derrida’s model. Second, we face governance. If the thicker and thicker This is an ambitious project which produces an carpet of IGOs, NGOs, CSOs and regional coordina- advanced text; the purpose of the work is to advance tion mechanisms can be looked upon as elements in a the literature, not to offer explanation to students. world government, then we must address the sensitive There is an assumption that her readers have at least a problem: should international and regional bodies con- cursory knowledge of the authors whose work she stitute the foundation of a hierarchical governance either draws on or critiques, although she gives useful structure? This is hardly feasible, as it would collide summaries of their arguments in relation to her aims. with the basic principle of state sovereignty that Bankovsky comes to her project as a supporter of remains a leading pillar in public international law, Derrida, and a critic of the constructivism of Rawls, despite being more and more restricted by humanitar- Habermas and Honneth, and the tone of her study in ian considerations. regard to each author is clear at the outset. There are This book is suitable for Master’s courses in ethics or areas where the work could gain from an attempt to international relations, applying the cosmopolitan engage with the negative aspects of Derrida’s position as frameworks of Kant or Rawls to the world of today, well as praising him and demonstrating the lasting utility very much in tune with the increasing support for of his model. In this sense the accessibility of the work humanitarian objectives globally.Two articles (Kofman to people from different perspectives might be improved and Nath) provide an excellent examination of the by an acceptance of a certain level of fallibility. © 2013 The Authors. Political Studies Review © 2013 Political Studies Association BOOK REVIEWS 229 The ambition of Bankovsky’s project is clear when lianism has a revolutionary flair – tradition, ‘practice’ she states:‘I hope that my own entry into this discussion, and culture together lay down the relationship between taking the role of a citizen encouraging others to main- social, political, moral and cultural spheres. tain attitudes to openness, humility and resilience, will The book presents a substantial explanation as to contribute, in some small way, to this project’ (p. 218). I why MacIntyre emphasises embeddedness, the only would question whether this book will reach the general way to realise one’s life in a society through a ‘life in citizenry,and if this were to happen whether they would practice’. MacIntyre aptly claims that ‘utopianism of the understand it. However, as an academic exercise regard- present’ is more important than the utopianism of the ing the utility of Derrida’s ideas to contemporary analy- future. The book is in a way a tribute to the philo- sis, Bankovsky makes a strong and articulate argument. It sophical ingenuity of MacIntyre and his life-long is clear throughout the book that she comes to this concern for ‘virtue’. It is magnificently relevant to project as a supporter of Derrida and she is successful in researchers of Western political theory. Despite its focal concluding the study in support of the analytic merit of point being Western societies, researchers outside the both his and her own work. Western world will certainly find it an immensely Overall this is a worthwhile and challenging read insightful reflection on long historical intellectual tra- regardless of one’s ontological position. For those who ditions of Western political theory. The book is a support Derrida’s work and wish to utilise his models success as it substantially delineates three major ideas of then this text offers a useful framework from which to political theory: liberalism, communitarianism and start. For those who disagree with Bankovsky’s analyti- Marxism and their sociological manifestation. This is cal position the book provides a starting point for a evident from the way the book engages us throughout helpful discussion of the potential role for political with its exposure of researchers to significant ideas. theory in developing and gaining support for certain While the book is an impactful value-addition to con- models of justice. This book marks the start of an temporary political theory, it does not create the point interesting debate. of closure. It only gives us a strong foundation from which we need to proceed further – to understand Gemma Bird (University of Sheffield) how ‘a life in practice’ while embedded in socio- historically shared meanings of life also takes care of the ‘dynamicity’ of tradition and practice. Virtue and Politics: Alasdair MacIntyre’s Revo- lutionary Aristotelianism by Paul Blackledge and Chidella Upendra Kelvin Knight (eds). Notre Dame IN: Notre Dame (Indian Institute of Technology, Indore) University Press, 2011. 365pp., £34.95, ISBN 978 0268022259 Social Injustice: Essays in Political Philosophy by Vittorio Bufacchi. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, The ineluctable question for political theorists today is: 2012. 202pp., £50.00, ISBN 978 0 230 25160 1 ‘What would it be for my life as a whole to be a flourishing life?’ This book takes us through a long While there is a bulk of literature on social justice, far journey into MacIntyre’s philosophy of virtue ethics – less has been written on the topic of social injustice. For where virtues are treated as the sole driving force of much too long social injustice was seen as the absence of society throughout history. This expansive book justice. However, reversing the relationship between presents us with two pictures: MacIntyre as a Marxist, social justice and social injustice has major implications. and as an Aristotelian. The authors also explicate at Up to the present day, it is not clear what these impli- large the MacIntyrean notion that virtues are to be cations are, and it will take a lot of work to spell them ‘grounded’ rather than ‘free-standing’ in order to expe- out. An important contribution has been made by Vit- rience the common good.The book also discusses how torio Bufacchi, whose book Social Injustice is a collection we realise this ‘social life’, emphasising that such reali- of thirteen essays, of which the majority have already sation is not possible in pure liberal societies. For Mac- been published over the last twelve years in various Intyre, where Marxism failed Aristotelian ‘virtue ethics’ journals and scholarly books. One of Bufacchi’s main are the alternative. In this sense, MacIntyre’s Aristote- aims was to delineate the quintessence of social injustice, © 2013 The Authors. Political Studies Review © 2013 Political Studies Association Political Studies Review: 2013, 11(2) 230 POLITICAL THEORY his main concern being to avoid the risk of ‘over- public policy. Under Paul Cairney’s approach each inflating the concept of injustice, turning this concept chapter sets out a key theory or concern of public into something rhetorically powerful but analytically policy, identifies its values and explores the questions blunt’ (p. 12). each theory seeks to answer, considering, where appro- In the opening chapter he therefore identifies three priate, how each theory or concept has been applied dimensions, of which social injustice as mal-distribution empirically and how much it tells us about different always has to be present, whether or not in conjunction political systems,