Where is the injustice in structural injustice?
Loading...
Files
Published Version
Date
2024
Authors
Bufacchi, Vittorio
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
G. Giappichelli Editore
Published Version
Abstract
This paper will offer a conceptual analysis and critique of Maeve McKeown’s account of structural injustice. McKeown’s main thesis is that structural injustice ought to be approached via critical theory, and that a critical theory of structural injustice should incorporate power. While I agree with McKeown’s general approach, I argue that two aspects of this work remain opaque and in need of further analysis. First, while McKeown does a lot of important work on the ‘struc-tural’ component of structural injustice, what constitutes an ‘injustice’ remains undefined, being taken for granted. More specifically, the concept of intentionality, which is crucial to McKeown’s account of ‘deliberate structural injustice’, remains under analysed. Secondly, while McKeown rightly puts power at the centre of structural injustice, there seems to be an assumption that power and domination are cut from the same cloth. I will challenge this assumption, suggesting an alternative way of integrating power within the sphere of structural injustice.
Description
Keywords
Structural injustice , Maeve McKeown
Citation
Bufacchi, V. (2024) 'Where is the injustice in structural injustice?', Philosophy and Public Issues, 2 (2), pp. 221-230. https://doi.org/10.17473/2240-7987-2024-2-2