My Submission to the St Gallen Student Competition:
http://www.stgallen-symposium.org/Leaders-of-Tomorrow/Student-Competition.aspx
-------
Global Justice: The Ultimate Goal of Globalization
Introduction
The financial crisis has exerted a profound impact on the existing power balance. A relative decline in American power has weakened its world leadership as the economic center of gravity continues to shift from the West to the East. While a convergence in wealth gap can be seen as a welcoming sign as more people are lifted out from poverty, the rapidity of the rise of emerging economies and the redistribution of power associated with the transfer of wealth has naturally provoked some uneasiness in the West. In light of this change, it is important for us to note that the background of the discussion has changed substantially from the Cold War era to the new globalized world. We shall therefore shy away from the traditional model of “balance of power” in examining international relations. Instead, we ask whether a set of new guiding principles that transcend national boundaries shall be embraced when considering the redistribution of power in the global scene.
This essay contends that in the interconnected global society, it is a moral responsibility to accept global justice as a premise of discussions over inequalities among different nation states. The argument rests on the notion that globalization has bonded people of different states together and that the well being of a nation is now deeply dependent on the other states. Along the same line of reasoning, we examine where domestic injustice intersects with global justice and extends that as world citizens, not only should we be concerned over the large gap in living standards between the third and the rich world, we should also work towards a more egalitarian global society for both moral and practical reasons. Secondly, a general outline of what global justice should encompass of in the emerging global society will also be discussed in this paper. The attempt was deliberately general, aimed to provide a broad framework instead of specific policy recommendations. Lastly, the paper asserts that global justice relies on a just and sustainable institutional architecture and several features of what I believe to constitute to such a system are discussed.
Injustice at home - A case study of Hong Kong
Born and raised in Hong Kong, I shall use Hong Kong’s development as an example to illustrate the intertwined relationship between the distribution of economic and political power and how, a system without fair representation tends to exploit the bottom of the social classes.
“In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.” – Albert Einstein
13 years have passed since the return to China, Hong Kong has found itself at a crossroad once again. Politically, the city is mandated to establish itself as an integrated and integral part of the authoritarian China without compromising on the progression towards full democracy. Socially, Hong Kong's wealth gap has increased markedly since the end of the colonial era. Its Gini Coefficient, a measure of inequality, is now the highest among the 27 advanced economies in the world. The notorious cage living is an example of the deprivation that exists in one of the most modern cities in the world. About 100,000 poverty-stricken residents live one by one in a cage made of wooden planks and wire mesh of an area only large enough for a mattress and a few possessions. This growing social divide is mirrored by an equally uneven distribution of political rights and is inextricably linked to the struggle over universal suffrage. Only half of the 60 seats in the legislative council are elected through a system of universal suffrage, while the other half remains to be elected through ‘functional constituencies’, a small elitist circle compromising of special interest groups. The struggle over universal suffrage is not only a political struggle; it is a struggle over fairness in sharing the fruits of economic achievement.
Necessity to Accept Global Justice as a Premise
Moving the lens away from Hong Kong, the world we live in now is also characterized by glaring and excessive inequalities. One of every six person in our world is destitute. These one billion people live on less than a dollar a day and cannot secure basic needs such as food, clean water and shelter. Another 1.5 billion people live with less than 2 dollars a day with minimal health care and education. Nevertheless, the problem of global injustice manifests itself outside of economic indicators. About 60% of the poorest countries experienced civil conflict of varying intensity and duration in the period 1990–2001. Basic human rights are trampled and denied to billions of people. They live under oppressive regimes, are subject to arbitrary imprisonment and tortures, being raped and forced into prostitution with basic security threatened and dignity stripped away. They are deprived access to education and other means that can help them to live an autonomous and dignified life.
As John Rawls states in the Theory of Justice,
“The natural distribution is neither just nor unjust; nor is it unjust that persons are born into society at some particular position. These are simply natural facts. What is just and unjust is the way that institutions deal with these facts.”
It is a fact that there exist innate differences between nations but what is unjust is how the system exploits such difference and marginalizes our world. The growing social contradiction in Hong Kong has illustrated that systematic inequality stems directly from an unjust institutional arrangement, which is tilted to protect the existing powers. Channels of upward mobility are capped for the impoverished states. They simply have no chance.With unemployment hitting record highs and state finance at fiscal brink after the crisis hit, many in the rich world now see globalization as a threat to their living standard. Together with the dissatisfaction of the economy, exaggerated income inequalities and poor governance may spark social unrest and protectionism may be renewed in the midst of such depressing social mood. The effect will be devastating to the global poor if we shut down our borders. If domestic injustice, which has been amplified by the financial crisis, is not properly handled, injustice will be exported to outside of borders as the third world is cut off from accesses to resources. The connection between domestic and global justice, however, is not a one-way process. If we have a more egalitarian global world, it will in return empower the bottom social classes at home to fight for their fair share of resources. Global justice is therefore more than a moral assertion as it exerts real practical implications to domestic governances.
The Skeptics
Some argue that global justice is not possible because justice only concerns citizens living in the same state. Other states that a commitment to global society requires roots of common cultures and global justice is therefore impractical. These views should be contested in the new globalized world.
Implications of Globalization
“In this interconnected age, our security and prosperity depend on the ability to bring others to the table to solve problems in their own countries and regions. We are stronger when we work together.” - Hilary Clinton
Globalization has transformed the economic landscape by significantly reducing production cost, opening potential markets, and by increasing flows of capitals and goods. It has assisted to lift millions out from poverty and open previously unimaginable possibilities to many. Multinational companies, with their supply chain now covers different states, are held responsible for the labor conditions of their suppliers. The firm’s social commitment is stretched beyond its region of domiciliary region. Apple, for example, has a Supplier Code of Conduct that asks its suppliers around the globe to fulfill a set of mandated labor standard and demands correction actions should violations are discovered.
Politically, new forms of global governance have emerged to regulate issues that concern all states and they operate outside the framework of state sovereignty. The UN has subsidiaries that touch upon various areas of global concerns. Its function is not limited to provide a platform for dialogues exchanges but also to mobilize common efforts to enforce and protect rights of member states. Similarly, institutions such as the World Bank and IMF, whose work has delivered significant impact to the livelihood of many across the globe, have the important responsibility to ensure the stability in the global financial system. Regional organizations such as the European Union, ASEAN have also played an increasingly important role in facilitating regional cooperation. These organizations link regions and interests together, creating a new and broader definition of cultural and regional identity that has blurred traditional national boundaries. The development of these new, outside-of-border institutions has important and extensive implications to human welfare.
What should Global Justice entail?
The pursuit of Global Justice needs to be coupled with realistic planning and a sensitive understanding of the deeper definition of justice. Here, I shall identify two areas that we need to address in the new era of globalization.
Basic Necessity
Access to basic necessities of a dignified life - such as clean water, food, shelter, education and healthcare should be ensured. It is morally unacceptable that we turn a blind eye to the socioeconomic deprivations of the third world when these are the basic rights that the rich world has taken for granted. As the world becomes more integrated, engagement should be extended to those who have been hitherto left behind.
Human Rights
Humans rights as basic security of human dignity should be protected in all societies. Everyone in the world should be protected against threats from tortures, arbitrary imprisonment, forced prostitution or marriage and compulsory labor. Many in our world still live in fear despite having done nothing to deserve such miseries.
Institutional architecture designed for all
“Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.” - Blaise Pascal
In light of the changing political landscape, it is important to ask whether the current global institutional architecture is dynamic and fair enough to accommodate the increasing number of international players. The below outlines three main elements that I believe are crucial to ensure power is distributed in a fair, productive and sustainable way.
Unaccountable, Unchecked and Underrepresented Power is Unacceptable
The basic principle of Justice is that power holders are responsible for the people its power extends to. In the new world order with more influential actors involved, we need to make sure actions of these actors are held accountable as impact of policies made by these global players are now far-reaching. Every individual and every state matters. The only way we can ensure that no one is left behind is when powerful states or institutions set agenda on issues of global concerns, smaller states can have their opinions taken accounted to. In view of that, regionalization of states is likely to continue and should be encouraged.
Transparency and Independence
As global institutions become more relevant and powerful in the world, policy-making within these institutions needs to be more transparent. The independence of these institutions should also be cherished to make sure the delivery of service is efficient. Affiliations to any specific country of the global institutions would surely arouse suspicions and undermines the effectiveness of the organization.
Built-in Incentives and disincentives
With a relative decline in American power, it has become more important to have strong incentives for cooperation and disincentives for detachment cemented in the instructional architecture to ensure that power is distributed in a sustainable manner. The new world order requires participations of all states to ensure the effectiveness of the solutions to shared problems such as environment and human rights.
A Call to Globalize Justice
The paper has stated the moral and practical grounds for the legitimacy of global justice. While the project of Global Justice is grand in scope and nature, it is in my belief that justice can be exported and imported just like other tangible products. If the poor in Hong Kong can be better protected, the influence will be felt across borders in Mainland China and to the other parts of the world. Unfortunately, it is also true that injustice will spread as the bottom class continues to be exploited domestically. In the relentless march towards global integration, we should recognize the responsibilities that come with the power and wealth we have accumulated in addressing the socioeconomic deprivations that exist within and outside of the states we live in. So let’s start from home, and globalize justice.
Einhorn, Bruce. Countries with the Biggest Gaps Between Rich and Poor. Retrieved December 10th, 2010 from http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/107980/countries-with-the-biggest-gaps-between-rich-and-poor World's 50 Poorest Countries. Infoplease. Retrieved December 10th 2010, from http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908763.html
Maffettone, S. (2007). Universal Duty and Global Justice. Retrieved from http://globaljustice.stanford.edu/publications/21497/
