Morality and Global Justice

Introduction

Since the end of World War II, global inequalities have been increasing exponentially. The developing nations have been left behind even as most countries across the world are gearing towards sustainable economies (Habermas, 2018). Due to unequal growth, developing countries are still faced with limited resources to participate proportionately in global economic growth (Dorsey, 2005). There are many issues such as corruption, illiteracy, tribal wars, and trade barriers that still affect the developing countries (Cheru, 2016). The international relations between the developing and developed countries is limited based on little available resources to affect international trade.

However, it is important to note that justice should be served equally irrespective of the origin of a person. This implies that people living in developing countries should be treated equally to those in developed nations. The debate on global justice began in the 1990s, and it was aimed at addressing the issue of social justice and poverty which are some of the pertinent problems that people living in developed countries face (Graness, 2015). This paper will highlight if morality could help bring conscience in the developing nations and solve justice issues faced by these countries using philosophical arguments of global justice theorists.

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Research design

This paper will be based on secondary sources of early scholarly material. Early researchers have studied inequality taking place since World War II. The research process will involve the analysis of various material on ways that morality has influenced justice, the present gaps and draw a suitable conclusion from various sources. The paper will include research methodology, data collection and analysis, reporting of findings and discussion, and recommendations and conclusion on the topic. The gaps will be clearly identified to assist other scholars to dwell on bridging the gaps.

Research Methodology

The research methodology is a process of analyzing data so as to get useful meaning out of it. Notably, research methodology enables the researcher to determine the validity of the information that has been collected and also helps in answering the research question (Schick-Makaroff et al., 2015). Research methodology can either use secondary or primary sources. There are numerous methods and techniques that are used to collect data and that enable the researcher to make an interpretation. This paper will utilize the research synthesis methodology, whereby, past empirical findings and literature review on the topic will be analyzed to answer the research question.

Data Collection and Analysis

Based on the practice of global justice, it is the role of the rich countries to assist the poor nations. According to Gilabert (2012), there should be a moral commitment to help those who are in need. Philosophers argue that the issue of poverty that the developing nations are faced with is not a philosophical challenge, but one that involves the will of the politicians (Gilabert, 2012). Mostly, most of the politicians from the countries that are developed due not consider the issue of global injustice as one that entails moral failing which is the reason little effort has been observed in relation to helping the developing nations. Hassoun (2012) asserts that the global institutional order cannot be legitimate if it does not address the problems that people in developing nations are being faced with.

Based on philosophical arguments, the arrangements that are aimed at assisting the developing nations should not be coercive in nature since they would be against morality. Hence, developed countries should not expect anything in return whenever they decide to assist the countries that have poor economies (Hassoun, 2012). Additionally, it is the responsibility of each person in the world to take part in solving the issue of global injustice. Notably, developed countries must ensure that they make good of the harm that they have already caused in the developing nations in order for global justice to be attained (Pogge, 2012).

Based on moral positioning, philosophers argue that it is important to address the issue of how the developed countries have contributed to the problems that the developing nations are being faced with (Pogge, 2012). Individual autonomy, one of the concepts introduced by philosophers dealing with the issue of global justice, seems to be lacking and that is the reason many developing countries are being exploited by developed nations (Pogge, 2012). Philosophers also posit that social justice should not only be an issue of morality but one that ensures that there is justice for all people in the world. Further, there are some philosophers who argue that the issue of social justice should be one that is enforceable by law to ensure that there is equality in the distribution of wealth (Graness, 2015).

Based on the philosophical argument, morality is important in addressing the issue of global justice since it ensures that there is a human minimum threshold as relates to the distribution of wealth (Graness, 2015). This implies that people should not lack basic needs, but this is contrary to the developing nations. Hassoun (2012) asserts that it is important that global libertarianism is addressed if the issue of global justice is to be addressed in developing countries. Libertarianism is a philosophical concept that is concerned with ensuring that people have the freedom to choose what they desire (Tan, 2013).

Philosophers also advocate for global egalitarianism as a way of ascertaining that social justice is attained in the developing countries. Global egalitarianism is a philosophical doctrine that incorporates morality to ensure that all human beings are treated equally (Tan, 2013). Equal treatment of people would play a significant role in ensuring that there is an end to poverty and social injustices that are prevalent in the developing nations. Hence, looking at the above philosophical arguments, it is clear that they all focus on morality, and that it is possible to attain global justice in the countries that are not developed.

In a study that was conducted by Choudhary (2018), it was observed that all individuals should have equal moral worth. Further, the author argues that it is important that human beings are placed at the center of any discussion that is held by countries. Therefore, states or countries should not enter into an agreement that would end up depriving the rights of the citizens. Notably, for global justice to be attained, morality should be rooted in the center of each discussion. Additionally, past studies indicate that it is important to address the issue of ethics if global justice is to be attained in developing nations (Choudhary, 2018).

Report of Findings and Discussion

One of the research findings is that the commitment by developed countries to assist developing nations in tackling financial problems should be based on morality. Based on the research methodology of my paper, it was observed that most of the developed countries do not assist the developing nations with the right intention. Hence, there should be a global discussion on what intentions drive some of the developed countries into assisting the nations that have poor economies. The research also observes that the will of politicians plays an imperative role in upholding morality in a country, hence, ensuring that there is global justice.

Solving social problems that people in developing nations are facing can also play a big role in ensuring that morality is embraced. The research also finds out that coerciveness by the developed countries has contributed largely to the increased level of injustices around the world. Most of the rich economies do not have the right intention whenever they are assisting countries that are developing. Also, to attain morality and global justice in the long-run, it is important for leaders to address the injustices that were perpetrated in the past. Morality cannot be attained if leaders of countries that did harm to the developing nations are not willing to apologize on the issue.

Additionally, philosophers assert that there is a lack of individual autonomy making it possible to address the issue of morality. Some of the nations that financially assist the developed countries are not concerned with the ability of the poor citizens to meet their basic needs, but they are driven by self-interest. The other research finding is that there is a lack of global egalitarianism which is a concept that advocates for the incorporation of morality whenever the problems facing human beings are being addressed. Also, it has been difficult to attain global justice since people are not treated with equal moral worth.

Recommendations

It is important that developed countries have a collection action of solving the social and economic problems that developing nations are being faced with. Also, developed countries that have contributed much to global injustices should identify some of the measures that should be adopted to ensure that human rights are observed. International lawyers would play an important role in ensuring that morality is adopted whenever developed countries enter into agreements with developing nations. Universal laws can also be utilized to address past global injustices, hence, a step forward in ensuring that morality is attained in all the current dealings.

Developed countries should advocate for the equal distribution of financial resources around the world as a way of ensuring that there is global justice. It is not moral for some countries to exploit developing nations. Leaders should embrace each other in ensuring that the issue of morality and global justice is solved. The role that leaders play in attaining global justice is to enact laws that are meant to protect the rights of human beings and that ensure that human beings are equally presented. There is also a need to strengthen the world community so that each person in the world can embrace morality.

The relations between developed and developing nations should be one that promotes ethics in all practices. Besides, if world politics are centered towards moral development, then it is possible to attain global justice.

Conclusion

The issue of global justice is one that has been discussed in numerous international sessions, but the problem is yet to be solved. Developing nations have suffered due to global injustices that amount to exploitation by the developed countries. It is not moral that some people lack basic needs due to the unequal distribution of resources around the world. Philosophers argue that global injustices can only be solved if the discussion is centered on morality. Developed countries should have the right motive whenever they are willing to financially assist developing countries. Also, to address the issue of global injustice, it is important for global leaders to embrace morality in all their discussions. This paper finds out that global justice can only be solved if morality in integrated into all dealings between countries, and this would entail ensuring that human beings are treated equally. The social and economic problems that people in developing nations are faced with, need to be addressed as a way of ensuring that morality is achieved.

References

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