In Defense of Openness: Why Global Freedom Is the Humane Solution to Global Poverty

by Bas Van Der Vossen, Jason Brennan

The topic of global justice has long been a central concern within political philosophy and political theory, and there is no doubt that it will remain significant given the persistence of poverty on a massive scale and soaring global inequality. Yet, virtually every analysis in the vast literature of the subject seems ignorant of what developmental economists, both left and right, have to say about the issue.

In Defense of Openness illuminates the problem by stressing that that there is overwhelming evidence that economic rights and freedom are necessary for development, and that global redistribution tends to hurt more than it helps. Bas van der Vossen and Jason Brennan instead ask what a theory of global justice would look like if it were informed by the facts that mainstream development and institutional economics have brought to light. They conceptualize global justice as global freedom and insist we can help the poor-and help ourselves at the same time-by implementing open borders, free trade, the strong protection of individual freedom, and economic rights and property for all around the world. In short, they work from empirical, consequentialist grounds to advocate for the market society as a model for global justice.

A spirited challenge to mainstream political theory from two leading political philosophers, In Defense of Openness offers a new approach to global We don't need to "save" the poor. The poor will save themselves, if we would only get out of their way and let them.

Genres: Politics, Philosophy

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 4, 2018

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Brennan, in particular, has a style whose themes I'm starting to notice more of. I have questions about specifics, but broadly speaking it's a solid case for open borders and free trade.

[Frederik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very good book about global justice. The book has three main parts. First part is about free movement of people, second about free trade, and third about redistribution. I think the books starts strong but the arguments get progressively weaker as it goes on. For example in chapter 10 they examine Peter Singer-like arguments for redistribution. They don't think aid work because

"Countries that are poor [...] are mired in negative feedback loops. They are governed by abusive elites, people who make a living by extracting resources from their countries and people "

Whether development aid works is obviously a complicated question. But I don't think that their critique is valid when one considers effective altruist/ Singer type charities like Give Directly. So I don't think they succeed in showing that rich countries does not have an obligation to redistribute. But I do think that they succeed in showing that redistribution is not the most important component of global justice. First and foremost we should get out of their way and allow them to better their own situation. Opening borders between nations must be the most central concern for everyone who cares about global justice.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read I have to say the commentary on effective altruism was cringe worthy something like “don’t treat people in the global soulth like they need saving “ man it’s mosquito nets 🤷
Preventable disease