Charles W. Mills. 2008. Racial Liberalism

Liberalism and its Dominance

• Liberalism has emerged as a triumphant ideology globally, characterized by individual rights and freedoms.

• It originated as an antifeudal and egalitarian philosophy in the 17th and 18th centuries, opposing absolutism and hierarchy.

• Contemporary debates primarily focus on neoliberal versus social democratic versions of liberalism, rather than contesting the liberal framework itself.

Historical Context of Liberalism

• For 150 years from the 1800s, utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill, Sidgwick) was the primary moral foundation of political thought.

• Post-World War II, the atrocities of the death camps and decolonization led to a resurgence in natural rights philosophy, anchoring individual protections more securely.

• The emphasis shifted from social welfare entitlements to natural entitlements independent of social utility, aligning with the social contract traditions of Locke and Kant.

Contractarian Liberalism

• Since the 1971 publication of John Rawls's A Theory of Justice, contractarian or deontological liberalism has gained a dominant position within political theory.

• Important discussions in liberalism tend to overlook the historical racial implications and the failures of liberalism to address systemic inequalities.

Racial Liberalism

• The author argues liberalism has historically been a form of racial liberalism, where rights and responsibilities are racially defined.

• The social contract has been shaped into a racial contract favoring white individuals while subordinating nonwhites, which continues to influence contemporary liberal frameworks.

• Ignoring the racial history of liberalism perpetuates systemic inequalities.

Social Contract Theory

• The social contract is not to be understood literally; it's a metaphor for the societal construction of governance and order.

• Two key insights of the social contract: society is an artificial construct, and humans are naturally equal, thus demanding egalitarian institutions.

• Both Locke and Kant emphasize moral equality and the necessity of non-exploitative relationships in ideal societies.

Implications of Racial Exclusion

• The tradition of liberalism assumes moral equality yet fails to acknowledge the exclusion of non-whites in contractual agreements.

• Racial exploitation remains embedded within the fabric of liberal contracts, raising questions about justice and rights distribution.

Challenges to Liberal Theory

• Recent philosophical debates (Sandel vs. Rawls; Nozick vs. Rawls) struggle with racial implications in liberal narratives, often sidelining discussions on race.

• Racial liberalism has established a pattern of excluding persons of color from full contractarian rights and recognition.

Contemporary Liberalism and Exclusion

• Racial liberalism is described as symbiotic with white superiority, wherein a contract exists that privileges whites while marginalizing nonwhites.

• The argument highlights that many political philosophers, both historical and contemporary, ignore race, perpetuating exclusionary practices.

Rethinking Liberalism

• Racially structured liberalism requires a reevaluation to address the realities of political and social segregation.

• A shift from ideal theory to nonideal theory is necessary for addressing the historical and ongoing social injustices faced by people of color.

The Domination Contract

• The author proposes a 'domination contract' framework that acknowledges historical oppression and exploitation.

• This approach illuminates existing power dynamics and promotes a more realistic thesis regarding social justice and contractual agreements.

Conclusion

• The intertwining of race and liberalism historically suggests that the faith in a raceless liberal contract distracts from the realities of racial privilege.

• Addressing the racial nature of liberalism is vital for moving toward a truly inclusive and just society, reformulating contemporary discourse on justice and morality.