CFP: Realizing Global Justice: Theory and Practice

Recently, purely theoretical approaches on global justice have been challenged by philosophers and political theorists who defend a more practical or realistic approach to this issue. Nevertheless, the debate has been regarded either as excessively abstract with no implications on current life or as excessively restricted to the discussion about policies and institutions. In principle, both positions may be understood not as opposed to each other, but, rather, as complementary ones. However, making them compatible with one another is not an easy task, especially when moral and legal issues are taken into account simultaneously.

The Brazilian photographer, Rodolfo Gil, has managed to capture this ambiguity in his picture called “The bench”, this brochure’s cover photo (see it at www.uit.no/pdj/rgj). Beside the beggar, there is a vacant place. The beggar is claiming for justice right here and right now. His claim for justice is then based on the experiences of injustice. In the vacant spot, however, we have a place of sheer contemplation where the claim for justice is based on the ideal of the virtue. Let us then try to imagine our arguments considering both sides of the picture: with and without the beggar. Whichever side we choose, this exercise will undoubtedly contribute to the discussion.

Thus, we expect to promote a fruitful debate on the convergence between the theoretical and the practical approaches on global justice.

We encourage papers:

* Arguing for or against the theoretical approach.

* Arguing for or against the practical approach.

* Exploring or rejecting the possibility of convergence between them.