Justice without Borders
Cosmopolitanism, Nationalism, and Patriotism

Kok-Chor Tan argues that the cosmopolitan idea of global justice can accept some forms of nationalist and patriotic commitments.

Kok-Chor Tan (Author)

9780521542326, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 October 2004

236 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.35 kg

'… a solid introduction to cosmopolitanism and its apparent tensions with patriotism and nationalism.' Mind

The cosmopolitan idea of justice is commonly accused of not taking seriously the special ties and commitments of nationality and patriotism. This is because the ideal of impartial egalitarianism, which is central to the cosmopolitan view, seems to be directly opposed to the moral partiality inherent to nationalism and patriotism. In this book, Kok-Chor Tan argues that cosmopolitan justice, properly understood, can accommodate and appreciate nationalist and patriotic commitments, setting limits for these commitments without denying their moral significance. This book offers a defense of cosmopolitan justice against the charge that it denies the values that ordinarily matter to people, and a defence of nationalism and patriotism against the charge that these morally partial ideals are fundamentally inconsistent with the obligations of global justice. Accessible and persuasive, this book will have broad appeal to political theorists and moral philosophers.

Preface
1. Introduction
Part I. Cosmopolitanism: 2. The need for cosmopolitan justice
3. Conceptions of cosmopolitan justice
4. Liberalism and cosmopolitan justice
Part II. Nationalism: 5. Nationalism and cosmopolitanism
6. Equality among nations
Part III. Patriotism: 7. The limits of patriotism
8. Citizenship and special obligations
9. Nationality and justice
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Social & political philosophy [HPS], General & world history [HBG]