Global Inequality Matters / Global Ethics (PDF)

DARREL MOELLENDORF is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and the Institute for Health and Social Policy at McGill University, Canada. He is also the author of Cosmopolitian Justice.

'The novelty of Darrel Moellendorf's book resides in taking a clear global perspective on a number of issues that can be truly said to affect almost everyone in the world. They are global inequality, global institutions of governance, global climate change Dr. Moellendorf shows how this change of perspective often alters our conclusions (which we tend to draw by looking more narrowly at nation-states only) and how this may be the most appropriate perspective to take in an era of globalization like ours. His emphasis on equal personal respect owed to every individual, and on global equality of opportunity is most welcome. This is a book which, because of its candid global perspective and the arguments it makes, will be read and cited by specialists from numerous fields.' - Branko Milanovic, Development Research, World Bank, USA

Moellendorf carves out and defends underexplored, promising territory in the philosophy of international justice. Those who argue that rich countries have robust positive obligations to aid poor ones tend to reject the idea that justice is a function of any association between them, whereas those who object to such obligations tend to think that justice requires an association, usually political or cultural, that is absent at the international level. Moellendorf resourcefully argues for a third way: justice between states depends on a kind of association that exists between them and that entails weighty positive duties on the wealthy to reduce global inequality by changing, e.g., existent trade and climate treaties. Displaying terrific philosophical and empirical erudition, tempering normative ideals with realistic prescriptions, and providing comprehensive discussions of the literature while avoiding jargon and minutiae, this book will be accessible and revealing reading for anyone interested in what states owe to each other in a globalized world. -Thaddeus Metz, Humanities Research Professor, University of Johannesburg, South