Injustice abroad, authority at home? Democracy, systemic effects, and global wrongs

Journal article


Nili, Shmuel. (2018). Injustice abroad, authority at home? Democracy, systemic effects, and global wrongs. American Journal of Political Science. 62(1), pp. 72 - 83. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12321
AuthorsNili, Shmuel
Abstract

Multiple normative theorists currently link political authority to democratic political procedures. I explore how proponents of this influential view can address a fundamental, but overlooked, puzzle. The puzzle begins from the firm judgment that even a government that keeps democratic procedures intact loses its general authority if it enacts abhorrent major laws. This judgment means that the moral failure of some laws can dissolve the moral authority of other laws—even ones that are quite distinct in their content. But how can we explain these systemic effects of specific laws? I confront this challenge by introducing a global perspective into the discussion of political authority. First, I suggest that we should only adopt an account of systemic effects that can explain how the worst global conduct dissolves a government's general authority. Second, after developing such an account, I use it to reflect on thornier global cases.

Year2018
JournalAmerican Journal of Political Science
Journal citation62 (1), pp. 72 - 83
PublisherWiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
ISSN0092-5853
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12321
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85025446016
Page range72 - 83
Research GroupInstitute for Humanities and Social Sciences
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationUnited Kingdom
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/86v03/injustice-abroad-authority-at-home-democracy-systemic-effects-and-global-wrongs

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