Equality and Democracy

by Green, Philip

• ISBN13: 9781565843905
• ISBN10: 1565843908
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-02-01
• Publisher: New Pr

Summary

The first book in The New Press Back-to-Basics Series restates the importance of equality in an age of growing inequality. What is the role of equality in today's America? What are the arguments to be made for it, now that it is under increasing attack? Philip Green, whose scholarly books on equality and inequality have become basic texts of political analysis, here reexamines this most basic assumption of our democracy to get at the fundamental questions underlying current debate. Tackling the seeming conflict between a belief in equality and a meritocracy, Green demonstrates how an emphasis on merit ultimately promotes equality rather than inequality, and shows that it is both possible and economically sound for our society to move in the direction of increased equality. Further, he shows how a true belief in equal opportunity will change the way in which we think about political representation, welfare, child care, affirmative action, and the obligations of the citizens of affluent societies to the rest of the world. Equality and Democracy takes on these crucial questions with great clarity. Without recourse to jargon, Green analyzes complex political debates around equality, explaining the range of arguments, and evaluating their potential for bringing equality back to a central place in America's future. Equality and Democracy is both an original work of political theory and a compelling analysis of the direction political action ought to take in the twenty-first century. The New Press Back-to-Basics Series is a series revisiting and exploring the basic tenets underlying American democracy. Future volumes will address such fundamental topics as liberty, taxation, and social welfare.

Table of Contents

1) INTRODUCTION	1	(14)
Setting the Stage	1	(2)
Defining Equality	3	(12)
2) COMPETING PRINCIPLES	15	(26)
Justifiable Inequalities	15	(16)
The Question of Merit	31	(10)
3) EQUAL OPPORTUNITY	41	(22)
What is "Equal Opportunity"?	41	(11)
Equal Opportunity and Democracy	52	(11)
4) ACHIEVING EQUALITY	63	(26)
Surplus Inequality	63	(7)
Surplus Inequality and Redistribution	70	(6)
Work	76	(13)
5) THE COSTS OF EQUALITY	89	(28)
The Big Trade-off?	89	(15)
The Question of Incentives	104	(8)
"Some mute inglorious Milton may here rest..."	112	(5)
6) THE PROBLEMS OF COMPENSATION	117	(42)
The Paradox	117	(17)
Neutral Justice and Equal Opportunity	134	(8)
Affirmative Action and Higher Education	142	(17)
7) WHY NOT EQUALITY?	159	(26)
The Retreat from Equality	159	(12)
Competing Solidarities	171	(14)
8) CONCLUSION: EGALITARIAN SOLIDARITY	185	(22)
NOTES	207	(24)
INDEX	231