There Is No Unity, Only Politics: A Reply to Kurtz

2020 ◽  
pp. 216747952098188
Author(s):  
Michael L. Butterworth
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Political Change ◽  
Social Differences ◽  
Original Argument

Jeff Kurtz offers a substantive response to my essay, “Sport and the Quest for Unity.” Although he takes seriously my claims that “unity” is too often used within sports as a rhetorical means for eliding important cultural, political, and social differences, he also responds by suggesting that I tacitly endorse claims to unity when made on behalf of social justice causes. Moreover, he contends that the unity modeled by social justice advocates is “suffocating” and thus stifles legitimate differences among and between those who would seek political change. I reply in this essay by clarifying what I think is a misreading of my original argument. More importantly, I point to potential consequences of Kurtz’s argument, which I maintain over-reads the degree to which unity has been performed and implies a false equivalency between institutional forms of power and those making the case of justice.

Social Justice and Political Change: Public Opinion in Capitalist and Post- Communist States.

Social Forces ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 1507
Author(s):  
L. Richard Della Fave ◽  
James R. Kluegel ◽  
David S. Mason ◽  
Bernd Wegener
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Political Change

scholarly journals Recognition and Redistribution in Aristotle’s Account of Stasis

2022 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Douglas Cairns ◽  
Mirko Canevaro ◽  
Kleanthis Mantzouranis
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Political Change ◽  
Constitutional Change ◽  
Individual Group ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Fundamental Causes ◽  
Fair Distribution

Abstract In Politics 5.1–3, Aristotle sees different conceptions of proportional equality and justice as the fundamental causes of stasis and metabolē (constitutional change). His account shows what happens to notions of ‘particular’ justice when they become causes of individual and collective action in pursuit of moral and political revolution. The whole discussion of the causes of stasis should be read through the filter of individual/group motivation – as a reflection of what goes on in the heads of those who engage in stasis. Movements towards political change are motivated by ingrained conceptions of proportional equality and fair distribution of honour and wealth. Aristotle’s approach, therefore, may be compared to Axel Honneth’s, that social justice should be seen in terms of the distribution of dignity and respect as well as of material resources.

Situating Earth Democracy: Vandana Shiva on Agroecology, Contemporary Politics and Resilience

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-216
Author(s):  
Christopher Hrynkow
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Political Change ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
Contemporary Politics ◽  
The World

This article focuses on three works authored by Vandana Shiva and recently published by Zed Books. It employs these books as dialogical aids to map her thought in its political and ethical dimensions as they relate to peace, sustainability, and social justice. More specifically, after a brief introduction and a biographical discussion, this article situates her vision of Earth Democracy as a means to tie together Shiva’s inter-related reflections in the areas of agroecology, contemporary politics, and resilience. Comment is then offered concerning the tension and promises of Shiva’s treatment of these issues. The reader of this article is left with several points of entry to understand Shiva’s contributions to discourses on sustainable agriculture, nonviolent political change, and resilient sustainability. Shiva V (2016a) Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability and Peace. London: Zed Books. Shiva V (2016b) Soil, Not Oil: Climate Change, Peak Oil. London: Zed Books. Shiva V (2016c) Who Really Feeds the World? London: Zed Books.

Injustice, a Challenge to Social Cohesion

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-44
Author(s):  
Luis Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Political Change ◽  
Social Transformations ◽  
The Face ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Huge Challenge

Chapter Two entitled “Injustice, a Challenge to Social Cohesion” highlights the limits of the authoritarian systems set up by the governments in the face of social transformations and political change. Demands for better governance and greater social justice clashed with state practices designed to produce security. Revolts and riots have structured relations between society and states, which each time have managed to restore order. The ability of these states to keep a lid on unrest caused them to be perceived and analysed as “robust”. The unexpected and unforeseeable outbreak of the Arab revolts represents a huge challenge for the countries of North Africa. Civil society expresses demands for a more just and more inclusive state. The Arab revolts weakened the repressive apparatuses and opened new opportunities for jihadi groups.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Brian Wampler ◽  
Stephanie McNulty ◽  
Michael Touchton
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Political Change ◽  
Program Design ◽  
Institutional Design ◽  
Porto Alegre ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Past ◽  
Detailed Explanation ◽  
The World

This chapter introduces the reader to PB’s core principles and basic institutional design. The core principles include voice, vote, social justice, social inclusion, and oversight. All PB programs adhere to these principles, but each program gives different weights to each principle, which helps to account for the differences in program design around the world. The chapter provides a detailed explanation of PB, based on the Porto Alegre model, which emerged as the early example that other governments sought to replicate. The chapter also introduces three guiding questions that shape the rest of the book: How has PB transformed during the past thirty years as it spreads around the globe? What are the causal mechanisms through which PB programs may produce social and political change? To what extent have PB programs actually generated this social and political change? The authors emphasize these questions as critical for advancing theoretical and empirical debates surrounding PB as well as participatory democratic institutions in general.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document