Views of Social Justice Discussing British Society - Essay Example

?Consider at least two views of social justice in discussing whether contemporary British society is socially just: The present study aims to explorethe scholarly views about the nature and scope of social justice prevailing in the contemporary era British society in the light of two perspectives presented by Pearce & Paxton (2005, pp. 11-289) on the one hand, and Craig, Burchardt & Gordon (2008, pp. 21-327) on the other. The main objective behind discovering the features of social justice in England in modern times includes the fast alterations taking place in the socio-cultural scenario all over the world, which has certainly affected the norms, values, mores and taboos observed by an overwhelming majority of traditional and conventional English people. Since the British society has seldom made any compromise on the age-old customs and values has been being imitated by their ancestors for the last many centuries, ignoring the same in contemporary times looks absolutely strange and weird element appeared in the life of English people. In addition, since the British culture has always been the greatest torch-bearer and custodian of human rights, social justice and equality for centuries, by dint of which it has dominated over a large part of the globe in general, the masses are thought to be extremely reluctant in respect of allowing any penetration to bias, inequality and unfairness at least from its platform within their social establishment at large. Somehow, the globalisation phenomenon as well as latest technological advancements have certainly influenced the socio-political structure of the English culture, where inclusion of several foreign corporate organisations as multinational trade firms on the one hand, and individuals as foreigner students, businessmen, visitors, temporary residents and permanent immigrants on the other had have added their share in bringing imperative transformations in the social fabrics of the country. As a result, social justice appears to be observing a significant fall with the course of time, and the theorists find the concrete foundations of equality and justice to be in grave jeopardy in England for the future years to come. Social justice simply refers to the granting all members of society the opportunities of growth and making progress according to their efforts, skills, dedication and commitment on the principle of equality, impartiality, neutrality and fair play. In addition, providing the oppressed and suppressed individuals with compensation against the cruelties and atrocities committed on them by announcing punishments and penalties to the cruel offenders and criminals also comes under the definition of social justice. Social justice, according to Swift (2001, p.7) also appears to be concerned with the distribution of social goods, or ‘bads’ in a sense that distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities must be on the principle of equality. Furthermore, offering all the members of society equal opportunities of health, education, housing, transportation and respectable place in society are also the part of social justice practiced by the welfare states of the world (Macionis, 2007, p.530). Marxist perspective also advocates for the protection of the rights and privileges of the workers, peasants and labourers by making payment to them against the hard efforts they make in running the affairs of an industrial or agricultural unit (Turner, 1990, p.309). Thus, it protests against the lion’s share the producers, investors, mill-owners, landlords i.e. bourgeoisie takes out of the aggregate profit produced by the proletariat, which is vehemently opposite to the doctrine of justice, equality and fair play altogether. Theories have been articulated and researches have been conducted in order to unveil various aspects of human activities and behaviour in the light of social justice (Theo, 2008, p.109). The theorists are of the opinion that the apposite and unflinching structure and functioning of the social establishment appears to be dependent of the principles of equality, fair play, liberty and freedom of thought and action at large (Barsalou, 2005, pp.3-4). In other words, protection and safeguarding of basic human rights by providing them with equal chances of growth, mobility and exercising their skills and proficiencies serve as the most important element for the individual and collective uplift, progress and prosperity of a society (Ritzer, 2007, p.291). On the other hand, the societies unable to offer their people the opportunities, status and respect on equal basis, not only lose their respectable place in the international arena, but also their political, economic and structural decline appears to be at hand sooner or later. Consequently, it is social justice that bestows reverence and esteem upon the societies; on the contrary, biased, prejudiced and narrow-minded societies mere lag far behind than the developed nations in the race of socioeconomic and strategic stabilities at large. Hence, the nation’s achievements and prosperities at internal and external scales are erected on the concrete underpinnings of the human rights. By looking into the history of United Kingdom at large, it becomes crystal clear that the country has always been the leader of the modern world in respect of introducing and enforcing the statutes of law that bestow unconditional protection to the rights attributed to humans without making any discrimination in respect of class, clan, community, race, region, religion, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status. Social welfare, Powell et al. notice, is bound up with moral discussions about precepts such as equality, justice, freedom and rights, and implicit in this is the recognition that different ideas about social justice are fielded in different time periods, places and policy contexts (2011, p.4). The forefathers of present day British people not only established rules and regulations in political and strategic fields, but also ascertained the principles for trade, commerce and corporate sectors the free and fair launching of business and commercial transactions in the best interest of their subjects; Magna Carta, trial of the accused through jury, concept of protecting the humans from habeas corpus, freedom from suspension of individual rights and dispensation from the laws passed by the Parliament---all reflect the existence of strong rule of law and justice in the tradition English societies for the last one millennium (Shklar, 1987, p.31). It is therefore English Contract Law is being followed by several countries of the world including Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan and other even this day, which strictly lays stress upon the fulfilment of promises and execution of contracts between the individuals and/or groups on the principle of fair play, equity and legal and moral responsibilities (Greene, 1994, p.36). As a result, the UK is rightly considered to be the arch supporter of social justice and human rights within its social set up (Dicey, 1961, p.193). Thus, if a state appears to be taking such a deep interest in providing the people belonging to the foreign lands with complete code of law for the preservation of justice, why and how it should tolerate the practicing of injustices in its own motherland and with its own subjects. It is therefore the critics refute any possibility of injustices on the British soil, though they neglect the very reality that the country has started witnessing apartheid and ethno-racial discriminations particularly in the wake of the inclusion of various foreign communities as temporary or permanent residents of England. Being the reflection of the socio-cultural scenario of a country, a refined piece of literature always draws out the real picture of the developments being made within the society. Hence, the literature portrays the same as the men of letters experience within their natural and physical environment. The contemporary era literary pieces draw out the exploitations of the poor and downtrodden communities at the hands of elite stratum of English society on the one hand, and the minority racial groups by the majority white Anglo Saxon population (WASP) on the other; as the sad incident of riots in the UK from 6th to 10th August 2011 is regarded to be one of the most challenging issues the country underwent in respect of ethno-racial differences and prejudice existing in this apparently peaceful, prosperous, non-prejudiced and unbiased European country particularly in modern day liberal socio-political situation (Khalifa Magazine, 2011). In addition, the corporate sector also observes tremendous misuse of power; where bosses have taking advantage of the financial problems their female employees undergo (Drabble, 1985, pp.53-4). It is therefore, the state appears to be undergoing the phase that could not be stated to be witnessing social justice within its vast fold in general. Social justice is not confined to providing the individuals with equal chances of exercising their abilities and skills; on the contrary, it also looks for implementing such policies that could bring every ethno-racial, religious and cultural community to the limelight instead of letting any of the social group of society into a state of negligence and isolation (Pearce & Paxton, 2005, p. 97). In other words, if a community is ignored or discouraged at any public sector or scale from rendering its services in nation-building measures or any social, financial or cultural activity, it would strictly be against the social policy has been in vogue in England for centuries. Somehow, the modern England offers education to the students belonging to the divergent ethno-racial groups in the racially segregated schools and institutions; consequently, the adolescents are brought up with the views of having different identity and recognition as a minority group, contrary to the mainstream white population of the country (Shelton et al., 2004, p.397). It not only creates the feelings of alienation in them, but also they start considering them culturally crushed and oppressed stratum, which has least opportunities of mixing up with the rest of the population in their community gathering in general, and at the mixed gatherings at various public places on the other. The same state of affairs has been depicted by the Marxist perspective, where denial of respectable place and income to the proletariat leads the society towards alienation, conflict and anarchy subsequently (Ritzer, 2007, p. 127). Craig, Burchardt & Gordon (2008) have associated social justice with the policies being introduced by the administrations at various scales in the UK for the protection of human rights. The authors also suggest some measures to be taken in order to ensure justice, where redistribution of income, revision of social policy, alterations in public services and providing basic necessities of life to the people en masse could turn out to be highly supportive in respect of restoration of social justice in the country (pp.184-5). They also seek the roots of discrimination on the foundations of religion, race, income level and social position, all of which are in vogue in the present day UK (p. 95). It actually started taking place in the wake of the arrival of people from various zones of the globe en masse in search of job, education, health services and businesses. Though, the British administration certainly had the idea of dealing with the individuals, belonging to divergent groups and communities, during their reign over several Asian and African countries throughout the colonial era (Anghie, 2005, p.291); yet handling the situation in their native land appeared to be very challenging and hard nut to crack for them. As a result, they had to experience unpleasant state of affairs at several occasions. The division of British society into different social groups had been its age-old tradition, like the rest of the world cultures; somehow, inclusion of other racial communities gave the concept of discrimination to the English people. The division of society is routine matter due to the very reality that different individuals are to perform different duties and obligations within a social hierarchy for the smooth running of the national and communal affairs at large (Ritzer, 2007, p. 209), which gives birth to the idea of social positions and statuses. However, no occupation could be declared to be inferior or superior one on the basis of the nature of work. For instance, if a man (i.e. cobbler) mends the shoes of others, or is working as hair dresser or waiter etc, it does not mean that he has lost his reputation and respect in the eyes of society. On the contrary, he must be evaluated in the same coin as per the rule for the other professionals. Hence, a person performing any lawful act with honesty and integrity must be given equal status and respect without taking his profession, colour and ethnicity into least consideration (Parks, 1999). It is therefore, the British thinkers, including Richard Tawney (1931), George Orwell (2000), and Richard Titmuss (1971), had always argued against the class division and selfishness of acquisitive market societies (Wolff, 2006, p.174). One of the most dynamic reasons behind the decline of social justice system in UK is the great concern and inclination of the British administration towards the international affairs, rather than the problems the nation has been undergoing in general. It not only keeps the government away from revising the social policy, but also it so appears that the authorities do not have much time for the implementation of the same altogether (Pearce & Paxton, 2005, p.49). It is therefore, social policy appears to be confined to the statutes of law and constitution only during the contemporary era, where it does not have any concern to be enforced in the same way as per the tradition of the age-old British welfare state. As a result, instead of witnessing the traditional harmony attributed to the mighty England, the severe incidents of apartheid and racial discriminations have started appearing on the horizon of the British political scenario (Pearce & Paxton, p.406). Although the notion social justice has turned out to be successful in capturing the attention of the entire world during the contemporary era, even the developing societies of the world, nevertheless, the same has witnessed tremendous upset because of the transformations in the international scenario, where the concentration of almost all sovereign-states appears to be focused upon global security, free trade, human rights at international perspective and capturing the resources of small states through power, strategic policies and technological supremacies (Rajagopal, 2003, p.157). In addition, the people also blame the UK administration for applying discriminations while dealing with the members of minority communities of the UK. It is particularly taking place in the aftermath of terrorist surge in the world. The royal police’s capturing the individuals belonging to the minority groups, particularly the blacks and Muslims, for investigation purposes, also looks very unpleasant to the peace-loving citizens of England. Since an overwhelming majority of all communities prefers to lead a life strictly under the statutes of prevailing law, the law enforcing agencies’ keeping an eye on them with great suspicion is sure to invite their wrath and embarrassment eventually. Moreover, the people from the minority racial and religious groups also make complains of prejudiced behaviour adopted by the law enforcing agencies and police personnel, which vehemently denies the existence of traditional social justice in the country. As a result, the country looks presenting the picture similar to the culturally diversified and discriminated society of the USA. To conclude, it becomes crystal clear that social justice witnesses a downward trend incessantly during recent years in English society. There was a time when the British government used to introduce public policy for the socioeconomic uplift of the citizens by announcing benefits and relaxations in the fields of healthcare, education, employment opportunities, housing, transportations and others (Pearce & Paxton, 2005, p.268). Somehow, internal security and combating with the terrorist attacks had become the most vital issue for the administration during last one and half decade or so. It is partially due to the unpleasant law and order situation in the aftermath of 9/11 catastrophe in the USA and 7/7 terrorist attacks in the UK, challenging the very peace of the entire world at large. It is therefore, the critics declare the government’s taking radical security measures as an essential part of its campaign for providing the masses with a pleasant and protected environment to lead a peaceful and tranquil life. However, allocating all energies and resources on the adventures like invasion on Iraq and Afghanistan, and devising policies in the light of terrorism is sure to divert the attention of the administration from the obligations it is expected to perform. Eventually, not only university students have sought an unexpected rise in the fees of higher education, but also unemployment appears to be creating unrest and disappointment all over the country, paving the way towards high crime rates, immorality and lawlessness in general. Consequently, there appears to be a strong peril that if social justice is unable to find any place in the most traditional supporter of human rights and equality, the existence of the same could seriously be in grave jeopardy too in each and every part of the world eventually. Bibliography Anghie, Antony (2007) Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of International Law Cambridge University Press Barsalou, Judy (2005) Trauma and Transitional Justice in Divided Societies United States Institute of Peace retrieved from Burchardt, Craig G., T Gordon, (2008) (GEDS) Social Justice and Public Policy Bristol, the Policy Press Dicey, A.V. (1961) Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution London: St. Martin’s Press Drabble, Margaret (1985) The Ice Age New American Library Greene, Jack P. (1994) Negotiated Authorities: Essays in Colonial Political and Constitutional History Charlottesville, University Press of Virginia Macionis, John J. 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