Little has been written on this subject, but distinction is made between the words ‘justice’ and ‘humanitarian assistance’ because the second is so often referred to when we are discussing international problem areas such as poverty. Proponents of the global justice philosophy would argue that humanitarian assistance does not solve the problems at source and only an international justice system could do that. The cosmopolitan vision completes the picture in that it supports the international, without borders, theory of applying that justice. There has to be some credence given to the problems which arise that are often considered to come under the ‘humanitarian’ banner. Clearly things are, in many cases, not getting better but worse. Achieving social justice is particularly difficult in situations where countries are called upon to provide assistance to others, in whatever form is required, but in truth this is left to be an ethical choice rather than a duty of justice.
Of course, to action the philosophy would involve the agreement of many nations and, even where it was agreed it is difficult to see how it could be enforced, as the recent conflict within Syria and the resultant refugee situation proved. Then, even when countries had signed up to the 1951 Refugee Convention, some rescinded their responsibilities.
KThompson
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