1st Edition

The Routledge International Handbook of Social Justice

Edited By Michael Reisch Copyright 2014
    560 Pages
    by Routledge

    560 Pages
    by Routledge

    In a world where genocide, hunger, poverty, war, and disease persist and where richer nations often fail to act to address these problems or act too late, a prerequisite to achieving even modest social justice goals is to clarify the meaning of competing discourses on the concept. Throughout history, calls for social justice have been used to rationalize the status quo, promote modest reforms, and justify revolutionary, even violent action. Ironically, as the prominence of the concept has risen, the meaning of social justice has become increasingly obscured.

    This authoritative volume explores different perspectives on social justice and what its attainment would involve. It addresses key issues, such as resolving fundamental questions about human nature and social relationships; the distribution of resources, power, status, rights, access, and opportunities; and the means by which decisions regarding this distribution are made. Illustrating the complexity of the topic, it presents a range of international, historical, and theoretical perspectives, and discusses the dilemmas inherent in implementing social justice concepts in policy and practice. Covering more than abstract definitions of social justice, it also includes multiple examples of how social justice might be achieved at the interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal levels.

    With contributions from leading scholars around the globe, Reisch has put together a magisterial and multi-faceted overview of social justice. It is an essential reference work for all scholars with an interest in social justice from a wide range of disciplines, including social work, public policy, public health, law, criminology, sociology, and education.

    Introduction Michael Reisch Part 1: Historical and Cultural Concepts of Social Justice Introduction to Part 1 Michael Reisch 1. The Emergence of Social Justice in the West Walter Lorenz 2. Religious Influences on Justice Theory Daniel C. Maguire 3. The Gandhian Concept of Social Justice J. Prasant Palakkappillil 4. Social Justice in an Era of Globalization: Must and Can it be the Focus of Social Welfare Policies? Japan as a Case Study Tatsuru Akimoto 5. Social Justice in the Middle East Elizabeth Thompson 6. Decolonizing Livelihoods, Decolonizing the Will: Solidarity Economy as a Social Justice Paradigm in Latin America Ana Margarida Esteves 7. Social Justice, Transitional Justice, and Political Transformation in South Africa Simon Stacey 8. Indigenous Struggles for Justice: Restoring Balance within the Context of Anglo Settler Societies Hilary N. Weaver Part 2: Theories and Conceptual Frameworks Introduction to Part 2 Michael Reisch 9. Social Justice and Liberalism Michael Reisch 10. Conservatism and Social Justice David Stoesz 11. Social Justice and Critical Theory Jan Fook 12. Social Justice Feminism Mel Gray, Kylie Agllias, & Kate Davies 13. Post-Modern Perspectives on Social Justice Stanley L. Witkin & Allan Irving 14. The Capability Approach and Social Justice Seonmi Kim & Margaret Sherrard Sherraden 15. Human Rights as Pillars of Social Justice Joseph Wronka Part 3: Social Justice Issues in Policy and Practice Introduction to Part 3 Michael Reisch 16. Social Justice and Income Support Policies Greg Marston 17. Social Justice and Education Maurianne Adams 18. Social Justice and Criminal Justice Frederic G. Reamer 19. Social Justice for Children and Youth Susan Kemp 20. Housing, Homelessness, and Social Justice: No Fate but What We Make Jeffrey Singer 21. Environmental Justice Robert Kuehn 22. Health Inequality and Social Justice Johan Fritzell 23. Social Justice and Mental Health Jerome Wakefield 24. Violence and Safety: A Social Justice Perspective Betty Garcia 25. Social Care and Social Justice Malcolm Payne 26. A Looming Dystopia: Feminism, Social Justice, and Community-Based Long-Term Care Martha Holstein 27. The Last Frontier? Indigenous Australians and Social Justice John Whyte & Catherine McDonald 28. Why Poverty and Inequality Undermine Justice in America Mark R. Rank Part 4: Cultural Reflections on Social Justice Introduction to Part 4 Michael Reisch 29. Social Justice, Culture, and Human Rights Stuart Rees 30. The Use of the Arts in Promoting Social Justice Izumi Sakamoto 31. By Its Absence: Literature and the Attainment of Social Justice Consciousness Cheryl Clarke 32. Music and Social Justice Jowi Taylor 33. Social Justice and Cinema Gerald Sim

    Biography

    Michael Reisch is the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice at the University of Maryland, USA. He has published and presented widely on the history and philosophy of social welfare, social justice and multiculturalism, community organization, the non-profit sector, and contemporary policy issues, such as poverty, health care, welfare reform, and the impact of globalization on social welfare. In 2014, Professor Reisch was awarded the Council on Social Work Education's Significant Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award.

    ‘Michael Reisch has brought together leading experts on social justice to produce a profoundly important book that ranges comprehensively over the field. Covering theoretical, practice, policy and international aspects, it is an invaluable resource which should be a part of every thoughtful scholar’s library.’ – James Midgley, Harry & Riva Specht Professor of Public Social Services, University of California, Berkeley, USA

    ‘What could one more book about "social justice" tell us that has not already been said? After reading the Routledge International Handbook of Social Justice the answer is quite simple: Quite a lot! Editor Michael Reisch and 36 other scholars, advocates, and activists present in one volume, multiple perspectives and experiences on the histories, theories, and applications of social justice in a variety of cultural contexts across the globe. From presentations of analyses, debates, and dilemmas and explorations of poetry, musings, and music, each thoughtfully written essay is replete with its own wealth of new ideas and references. Early on, Reisch quotes Michelangelo to say "I am still learning". With texts like this Handbook available to us now, thankfully we all are still able to learn!’ – Darlyne Bailey, Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, Bryn Mawr College, USA

    ‘Enhanced with occasional figures, a table on class differences in infant mortality, and a box presenting key features of social justice feminism, The Routledge International Handbook of Social Justice is a seminal work and strongly recommended for academic library Social Justice/Social Issues reference collections and academic social justice studies supplemental reading lists.’ – James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review, USA