This thesis will argue that it is possible for a theory of European justice to escape Hayek’s trap. I will demonstrate this by combining Van Parijs’ theory of European justice with Sangiovanni’s...Show moreThis thesis will argue that it is possible for a theory of European justice to escape Hayek’s trap. I will demonstrate this by combining Van Parijs’ theory of European justice with Sangiovanni’s account of European solidarity. I will show that a theory of European justice is the most plausible when grounded in (European) solidarity. Specifically, I will argue that the most plausible and desirable way of understanding European solidarity – from a liberal egalitarian perspective – is represented by Sangiovanni’s account of European solidarity. Sangiovanni’s account supports the political aspect of the argument made by Van Parijs and demonstrates that his interpretation of a theory of European justice can escape Hayek’s trap.Show less
The thesis deals with Dickens' commitment to expose and criticise the inequities of the British legal system in the 19th century. It provides insight into Dickens' fictional account of the Court of...Show moreThe thesis deals with Dickens' commitment to expose and criticise the inequities of the British legal system in the 19th century. It provides insight into Dickens' fictional account of the Court of Chancery and the Jarndyce and Jarndyce lawsuit in "Bleak House", and into the harmful effects of the criminalisation of the poor in "Great Expectations". Furthermore, it offers an analysis of specific moments of the novels in order to demonstrate Dickens' role in raising his readers' awareness of the social injustices of their time.Show less
Despite the 1970s black feminists’ efforts towards empowerment, black women are nevertheless overshadowed by racism and sexism in political as well as social structures in contemporary United...Show moreDespite the 1970s black feminists’ efforts towards empowerment, black women are nevertheless overshadowed by racism and sexism in political as well as social structures in contemporary United States. Black feminist scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw initiated the social justice movement “#sayhername” in 2015 to address the severity of black women’s maltreatment and their underrepresentation in society. Her conceptualisation of “intersectionality” theory in 1989 allows for academic debate on the “matrix of oppressions” that undermines black women on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, capitalism and imperialism. This recent development has raised the necessity to overcome the effacement of black women’s narratives from the past and the present. However, roots of intersectionality theory lie in the establishment of the historical black feminist organisations that separated from the “mainstream” black liberation and women’s liberation groups to challenge the intersecting oppressions. This thesis examines the historical black feminist struggles towards empowerment to argue that the oppressions still need to be overcome in the 21st century United States. It discusses three different black feminist organisations that emerged in the 1970s who laid the groundwork for present-day black feminism and intersectionality theory. First, the National Black Feminist Organisation (NBFO) which was the first group to defend black women’s needs and to raise the black feminist consciousness. Second, the Combahee River Collective (CRC), which developed the pivotal basis for intersectionality theory to discuss matters of sexual orientation and lesbianism to bring minority issues to the public attention. Last, the Third World Women’s Alliance (TWWA) that established a democratic global sisterhood to educate and to empower women of colour who were equally burdened by imperialism. An analysis of these three black feminist groups illustrates how feminist and historical literature neglect black women’s accomplishments for black women’s justice. Additionally, an understanding of the historical struggles of black feminists is essential to challenge the injustices minority groups experience today. As a result, this thesis argues that new social justice movements of consciousness-raising, black women’s empowerment and a gender-inclusive political agenda are necessary to foster gender and race equality.Show less
