Global poverty: Development ethics meets global justice

Abstract

Any plausible conception of what may constitute fair globalization needs to address the processes that produce and reproduce global poverty. In this essay I argue that the ethical aspects of global poverty lead to a redefining of both development and globalization. In addition, as the ‘global’ impinges increasingly on every field of knowledge (and praxis) so too development, philosophy, and ethics and the relations among these fields of knowledge are forced to redefine their scope and subject matter. This, in turn, has consequences for the ways in which globalization is treated and, in particular, for the emergent field of globalization studies. My main point is that the ethical aspects of globalization are interrelated with an ethical perspective on knowledge and policy for poverty reduction, and moral understandings of poverty; perspectives—among others—investigated by the fields of development ethics and global justice. In addition, I suggest that poverty needs to be treated globally and not as a social fact that occurs only in developing countries. This entails a re-engagement with literature and theories within the field of development studies and with poverty research. And as poverty research is dominated by the knowledge and policies of global institutions, this includes critical engagement with such agents' knowledge production. Cross-fertilization between these fields may lead to stronger and constructive theoretical formulations for alternative globalizations, for a better understanding of the paths towards fairer development aid policies and institutions more responsive to global poverty.