States, citizens, and global injustice: the political channels of responsibility

Hobden, C

Oxford Thesis Collection

Thesis

States, citizens, and global injustice: the political channels of responsibility

Abstract:: This thesis has two parts, which together seek to explore the political channels of responsibility for global injustice. While there is much that we might owe each other as persons, the thesis argues that our political arrangements and interactions generate further duties for citizens, both as a collective and individually, and for states as political agents.

Part I explores what states, as equal agents in the global sphere, owe to each other. It presents two sets of duties held by states: firstly, non-relational duties of non-harm, rescue, and the provision of basic human necessities; and secondly, a relational duty to respect the principle of equality in negotiation. Drawing from this foundation, Part II offers an account of citizen responsibility for states' failure to fulfil these duties. The thesis supports existing claims that citizens ought to bear the burdens of their participation in the state but makes a further claim that citizens of liberal western democracies can be held collectively morally responsible for the unjust acts of their state. This responsibility is grounded in citizens' endorsement of democracy, their influence and benefit from state action, and their unique position to hold the state accountable.

As a result of this responsibility, the collective can be blamed, punished (within limits), expected to apologize, and held liable for remedial duties. In turn, citizens will have individual duties to 'do their bit' in fulfilling these collective remedial duties, as well as the collective duty of holding their state accountable. Each citizen's share of these collective duties will be determined by their capacity and effectiveness in contributing to the fulfilment of the duties, and their share of the influence over, and benefit from, the injustice.

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APA Style

Hobden, C. (2015). States, citizens, and global injustice: the political channels of responsibility [PhD thesis]. University of Oxford.

MLA Style

Hobden, C. States, Citizens, and Global Injustice: the Political Channels of Responsibility. 2015. University of Oxford, PhD thesis.

Chicago Style

Hobden, C. 2015. “States, Citizens, and Global Injustice: the Political Channels of Responsibility.” PhD thesis, University of Oxford.
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