Geography and Social Justice

Human geography - cultural, economic, political, and social - is inherently concerned with social justice and injustice. Being born in one country, region or one part of a particular city may, for example, be the single most important factor in an individual's health, education, and longevity. It is clear that in every nation, including present and former socialist societies, wealth and privilege are unevenly divided. But would an equal distribution of resources really be preferable from a moral point of view? Is it even possible to propound universal prescriptions of what is socially just, or to talk about universal rights in a world in which different kinds of people (according to class, gender, race and religion) are treated so differently in different places?Such questions are far from simple. In this book David Smith, one of the world's leading geographical thinkers, throws incisive light upon them. He proceeds first by providing a critical and accessible review of relevant issues in social and moral philosophy, in particular the contrasting claims of different theories of social justice, and the nature of rights and needs. He examines John Rawl's proposition that inequality can be justified to the extent that it benefits the worst off; and he considers how far justice may or should be seen as a process for equalization or returning to equality, in the face of persistent and widespread inequality.The author then applies these theoretical perspectives to several case studies. These are based on his own first-hand research, and cover racial injustice in the American South, inequality under socialism and its aftermath in eastern Europe, and the prospects for social justice in post-apartheid South Africa. David Smith examines the plight of those peoples who have no secure place or defined territory, focusing on the conflicting claims of the Palestinians and the Israelis. Finally he draws together elements of theory and experience to present trenchantly argued conclusions on the justice of market-led society, the ideals of egalitarianism, and the universality of principles of justice. By both precept and example he shows the central contribution that geographers can make to the understanding of social justice in a complex and rapidly changing world.Smith, David M. is the author of 'Geography and Social Justice', published 1994 under ISBN 9780631190264 and ISBN 0631190260.