Justice by Means of Democracy

For much of the 20th century John Rawls’ Theory of Justice has provided a normative framework for much policy-making in the U.S. and elsewhere. In this course, students explore an alternative theory of justice that places greater emphasis on democracy, and look at concrete examples of the application of this alternative policy-making framework to concrete domains like housing, good jobs and the economy, education, and climate. The course helps highlight the tight connection between underlying philosophical and ethical frameworks and policy-making methodologies, helps students understand reigning policy-making paradigms, and invites students to consider alternatives that more powerfully support democracy and inclusive empowerment.