PL/PO 217: Global Justice (Spring 2015)

Professor: Thornton Lockwood

Office Phone: (203) 582-3345
Office Hours: Mondays 3:00-5:00 and by
Class Time and Room:
appointment
MWF 12-12:50, Tator Hall 327
Office Location: CAS 3 (room 108)
Email: [email protected]
Course description
Although we live in a global economy and witness the effects of globalization on a daily basis in
what we read, purchase, and consume, making sense of the ethical or political obligations we
have as global citizens is much less obvious. At least since the seventeenth century, western
political philosophy has focused upon justice within the framework of the nation-state. But how
are we supposed to make sense of justice beyond the borders of any one nation-state? For
instance, public education and public health programs are state institutions designed to
itigate i e ualit et ee a atio s itize s a d i p o e thei ge e al ell-being. But if
public education and health programs are beneficial within a nation-state, h should t the
be extended to individuals beyond a atio s o de ? If the practices of an individual or a
group harm those within their borderssay through pollution or violencethe legal system of
a nation-state provides recourse for halting and even punishing harms. But if the same harms
take pla e e o d o e s o de s, a e e helpless to espo d? Such questions lie at the heart of
the subject of global justice or the question of what obligations individuals, non-state actors,
and nation-states have beyond the borders of the nation-state. The first part of the course will
examine the conceptual frameworks which political philosophers have used to make sense of
justice either within or beyond the state. The second part of the course will apply those frames
of references to four different problems, namely those of global poverty, global migration,
humanitarian military intervention, and environmental justice.
Learning objectives
Philosophy is at the heart of a liberal arts education and its learning objectives are central to
any university education. The central learning objectives which this course will focus upon are:
Written communication: Regular formal and informal writing assignments
Oral communication: Mandatory classroom participation and oral presentations
Creative thinking: Examination of philosophical problems as challenges for solutions
Responsible Citizenship: Detailed investigation of national and global citizenship
Information Fluency: Regular news summaries about global justice
Student evaluation
The formula for your final grade is:
Class participation/preparation (including weekly current event summaries
and a group presentation during the last week of the semester):
Writing assignments (three 3-4 page papers):
Final paper (6-8 page paper due on 5/4/14):
Final exam (cumulative in-class exam scheduled during exam week)

25%
30%
20%
25%

Classroom expectations
Every class session will include textual analysis and discussion. Course books and
Blackboard readings are a required part of the class and for every class you must bring the

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PL/PO 217 Syllabus: Spring 2015
Prof. Lockwood

assigned text. Students who repeatedly fail to bring the required book or reading to class
will be marked absent for that class.
Philosophical writing is dense and challenging. You should plan on rereading, outlining, and
annotating the texts we read for at least 60 minutes before each class (even if the reading is
only a few pages in length).
In general, the use of laptops, tablets, and other electronic devises is prohibited during
class. Cellular phones must be turned off throughout the class. Any student observed using
a cellular phone in class (texting, web-browsing, etc.) will be marked absent for that class.
Paper extensions will be considered only if you consult with me (at least by email) at least 3
days ahead of the pape s due date.
Class attendance is mandatory and attendance will be taken in each class. Students are
allowed three absences during the course of the semester; for each absence thereafter,
o e s fi al g ade ill e lo e ed by 2%.
Class starts promptly on the hour. If you are more than 5 minutes late for class you will be
marked absent for that class.
Your final grade may be adjusted upward by a steady pattern of improvement.
Any form of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or recycling coursework from another class
will result in a failing grade for the assignment and disciplinary measures by the university.
The u i e sit s a ade i i teg it poli is o -line:
https://myq.quinnipiac.edu/Academics/Academic%20Integrity/Pages/default.aspx.
Students should read it before handing in your first assignment.
I encourage students registered in the course to discuss their learning styles and
comprehension requirements with me. Disabled students are strongly encouraged to avail
themselves of the services provided by the Learning Commons. For more information,
contact John Jarvis, Coordinator of Learning Service (x5390 or [email protected]).

Required texts
The following texts are required for the course:
T. Brooks, ed. Global Justice Reader. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4051-6964-6.
M. Risse. Global Political Philosophy. Palgrave MacMillan, 2012. ISB: 978-0-230-36073-0.
PL/PO 217 Course pack. Available at Campus Print Shop.
Class participation/preparation
Class will include regular student participation and discussion. Students should be prepared to
dis uss the da s eadi g assig e t fo e e lass. Additionally, students will submit informal
summaries of relevant current events in national and international media throughout the
semester. Finally, all students will participate in group presentations that will take place at the
end of the semester. In general, all students start with a participation/preparation grade of C.
Regular and insightful discussion and informal writing will aise o e s g ade to a A; egula
silence and uniformed writing will lo e o e s g ade.

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PL/PO 217 Syllabus: Spring 2015
Prof. Lockwood
Writing assignments and expectations
During the course of the semester you will write three short papers (3-4 pp.) on assigned topics
and one longer paper (6-8 pp.) based on your final group presentation. There will be four due
dates for the shorter papers: every student must hand in a paper for the first due date,
although deciding upon the two other due dates is up to the student. Students have the option
of writing a fourth paper for extra credit, in which case I will drop the lowest grade of your four
short papers. In general, your papers will be graded on the basis of three criteria: How well
have you understood and responded to the philosophical problem or text you are writing
about? How well have you incorporated textual material or examples to support your point?
How well have you organized and expressed your points grammatically? Copy-editing and
revision are integral parts of the writing process. Papers that exhibit substantial grammatical
errors (for instance, four or more errors in a paragraph) will receive an Incomplete. Students
who receive an Incomplete on a paper will have one week to complete it with adequate copyediting and revision; after one week, the grade for the paper will automatically drop to a D.
A (A, A-) level grade:
Accurate understanding of the philosophical problem and command of relevant
terminology.
Specific, thoughtful, and relevant illustrations/examples.
Coherent and thoroughnear flawlesspresentation.
Flawless grammatical prose.
B (B+, B, B-) level grade:
Relatively accurate but somewhat uncertain understanding of a philosophical problem.
Specific yet somewhat irrelevant or otherwise weak illustrations/examples.
Coherent but not thorough presentation (i.e. did not completely answer the question).
Several grammatical errors.
C (C+, C, C-) level grade and below (D):
Shaky or incorrect understanding of the philosophical problem.
Vague, overly generalized and/or otherwise weak/ irrelevant examples. Or no examples
given.
Incoherent or disorganized presentation.
Persistent grammatical errors.
F level grade:
Completely mistaken understanding of the philosophical problem
Irrelevance or absence of supporting examples.
No substantial effort to answer the question.
Evidence of academic dishonesty.
Extremely poor grammar.

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PL/PO 217 Syllabus: Spring 2015
Prof. Lockwood

Wed:
1/21
Fri:
1/23

Mon:
1/26
Wed:
1/28
Fri:
1/30
Mon:
2/2
Wed:
2/4
Fri:
2/6
Mon:
2/9

Wed:
2/11
Fri:
2/13
Mon:
2/16
Wed:
2/18
Fri:
2/20

Reading and Discussion Schedule

Part I: Frameworks for understanding global justice
Discussion Topic: Introduction to the course and the problem of global justice
Reading Assignment: Syllabus; civil vs. human rights (handout)
Discussion Topic: The problem of justice and the state, an overview
Reading Assignment: M. isse, Ch. Wh tates? (Global Political Philosophy [GPP],
pp. 62-87)
(1) Hobbesian Sovereignty and the Nation State
Discussion Topic: International relations as a state of war between sovereign states
Reading Assignment: T. Hobbes, Leviathan Chs. XIII-XIV, XVII-XVIII (in Global Justice
Reader [GJR], pp. 5-17)
Discussion Topic: The i tues of atio alis
Reading Assignment: D. Mille , The Ethi s of Natio alit (GJR, pp. 284-305)
Discussion Topic: Is international interdependence really a state of war?
Reading Assignment: C. Beitz, A tate of Natu e (GJR, pp. 18-44)
(2) Kant and Modern Cosmopolitanism
Discussion Topic: Transnational federalism
Reading Assignment: I. Kant, Perpetual Peace (GJR, pp. 319-331)
Discussion Topic: Leagues of nations in practice
Reading Assignment: J. Ha e as, Ka t s Idea of Pe petual Peace, with the Benefit of
T o Hu d ed Yea s Hi dsight (GJR, pp. 332-354)
Discussion Topic: Is cosmopolitanism at odds with state sovereignty?
Reading Assignment: T. Pogge, Cos opolita is a d o e eig t (GJR, pp. 51-69)
(3) Universalistic Human Rights
Discussion Topic: Human rights internationally
Reading Assignment: UN, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (GJR, pp. 119-123); J.
Nickel, Making Sense of Human Rights, Ch. 1 (in Coursepack)
DUE DATE FOR PAPER #1
Discussion Topic: Taxonomies of human rights
eadi g Assig e t: M. isse, Ch. Hu a ights (GPP, pp. 9-39)
Discussion Topic: The problem of universalism
eadi g Assig e t: M. isse, Ch. U i e salis s. elati is (GPP, pp. 40-61)
4 Rawls Law of Peoples
Discussion Topic: Liberalism and international justice
Reading Assignment: J. Rawls, Law of Peoples 1-4 (GJR, pp. 217-231)
Discussion Topic: Should international liberalism be egalitarian?
eadi g Assig e t: T. Pogge, A Egalita ia La of Peoples (GJR, pp. 237-55)
Discussion Topic: Rawls, Pros and Cons
eadi g Assig e t: G. B o k, e e t Wo k o a ls Law of Peoples: Critics versus
Defe de s (in Coursepack)

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PL/PO 217 Syllabus: Spring 2015
Prof. Lockwood

Mon:
2/23

Wed:
2/25
Fri:
2/27
Mon:
3/2
Wed:
3/4
Fri:
3/6

Mon:
3/16

Wed:
3/18
Fri:
3/20
Mon:
3/23
Wed:
3/25
Fri:
3/27

Part II: Practical Applications of Global Justice

(1) Global Poverty and Economic Inequality
Discussion Topic: Global poverty and debates between egalitarians and minimalists
Reading Assignment: Millennium Development Goals Report 2014 (in Coursepack); C.
Armstrong, Global Distributive Justice Chs. 2-3 (in Coursepack)
DUE DATE FOR PAPER #2
Discussion Topic: Egalitarian response
Reading Assignment: Singer, Fa i e, Afflue e, a d Mo alit (GJR, pp. 387-96)
Discussion Topic: Minimalist responses
Reading Assignment: T. Nagle, The P o le of Glo al Justi e, (GJR, pp. 416-438); J.
Rawls, Law of Peoples 16 (in Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: A contrarian response
Reading Assignment: G. Ha di , Life oat Ethi s: The Case Agai st Helpi g the Poo
(in Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: Gender and poverty, a local problem?
Reading Assignment: M. C. Nussbaum, Women and Human Development Ch. 1 (in
Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: Gender and poverty, an international problem?
Reading Assignment: A. M. Jagga , a i g A i a : Glo al justi e fo Wo e a d
Intercultu al Dialogue (i Cou sepa k)
Monday, 3/9-Friday, 3/13: No Classes, Spring Break
(2) World Migration and the Problem of Open Borders
Discussion Topic: The state of world migration today
Reading Assignment: UN International Migration Report 2013 (in Coursepack); C.
Armstrong, Global Distributive Justice Ch. 8 Glo al Justi e a d Mig atio (in
Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: The cosmopolitan or egalitarian case for open borders
eadi g Assig e t: J. Ca e s, Alie s a d Citize s: The Case fo Ope Boa de s (in
Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: A response to practical concerns about open borders
Reading Assignment: C. Kukathas, The Case fo Ope I
ig atio (in Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: The communitarian case against open borders
eadi g Assig e t: M. Walze , Me e ship (in Coursepack)
Dis ussio Topi : The ultu e a gu e t agai st ope orders
eadi g Assig e t: D. Mille , I
ig atio : The Case fo Li its (in Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: Debate on US immigration policy
Reading Assignment: Gutting & Ca e s, Whe I
ig a ts Lose thei Hu a ights
(http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/should-immigrants-lose-theirhuman-rights/)
LAST DAY TO DROP CLASS WITH A W
DUE DATE FOR PAPER #3

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PL/PO 217 Syllabus: Spring 2015
Prof. Lockwood

Mon:
3/30
Wed:
4/1

Mon:
4/6
Wed:
4/8
Fri:
4/10

Mon:
4/13
Wed:
4/15
Fri:
4/17
Mon:
4/20
Wed:
4/22
Fri:
4/24

(3) Humanitarian Intervention and the Right to Protect (R2P)

Discussion Topic: ICISS and the emergence of R2P
Reading Assignment: epo t of the ICI, espo si ilit to P ote t ; Lu k, The
espo si ilit to P ote t: The Fi st De ade (in Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: Humanitarian intervention and the problem of sovereignty
Reading Assignment: J. Mill, A Fe Wo ds o No -I te e tio (GJR, pp. 478-484);
UN Charter, Chapter VII (GJR, pp. 485-487)
Friday, 4/3: No Classes
Good Friday
Discussion Topic: A realist critique of R2P
Reading Assignment: Cu liffe, A Da ge ous Dut : Po e , Pate alis a d the Glo al
Dut of Ca e (in Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: A iti al iti ue of P
Reading Assignment: Cho sk , The Skeleton in the Closet: The Responsibility to
P ote t i Histo (in Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: A defense of R2P
Reading Assignment: Bellamy & Williams, O the Li its of Mo al Haza d: The
Responsibility to Protect, Armed Conflict and Mass Atrocities (in Coursepack)
(4) Climate Change and Environmental Justice
Discussion Topic: Ethical aspects of climate change
Reading Assignment: IPCC AR5 WG III, Ch. 3 Social, Economic, and Ethical Concepts (in
Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: The problem of fair allotment of CC costs
Reading Assignment: H. hue, u siste e E issio s a d Lu u E issio s (in
Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: Allotment of per capita emissions
Reading Assignment: P. i ge , O e At osphe e (GJR, pp. 667-688)
Discussion Topic: Contra per capita emissions, contra justice in climate change
Reading Assignment: E. Posner & D. Weisbach, Climate Change Justice, Ch. 4 (in
Coursepack)
Discussion Topic: A hybrid proposal
Reading Assignment: . Ca e , Cos opolita Justi e, espo si ilit , a d Glo al
Cli ate Cha ge (GJR, pp. 689-707)
Discussion Topic: A minimalist approach
Reading Assignment: D. Mille , Global Justice and Climate Change: How
Should Responsibilities Be Distributed? (in Coursepack)
DUE DATE FOR PAPER #4
Group Presentations
Mon, 4/27, Wed, 4/29, Fri, 5/1: Group presentations
MONDAY, MAY 4TH AT 9:00 AM: Final research papers due
Final Exam Schedule: TBA