Social Justice in the UK and US: Challenges and Solutions

Course Administration and Overview

Assignment Feedback: Scores and written feedback are provided for previous assignments, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
Course Planning: The rest of the term broadly follows the syllabus but with some adjustments.
Today's Focus: A quick recap of last week, an overview of the term's plan, and a deep dive into social justice challenges in the UK. The second part of the class involves a walking tour to the Foundling Museum.
- Walking Tour: Includes visits to London Neurological Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital (famous for child care).

Recap of Last Week's Content

Manifesto Summaries: Student summaries of manifestos will be shared at some point.
Moral Frameworks and Theories of Justice:
- Language of DEIBA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Access): Chris Aiken's training discussed power, privilege, and oppression. He highlighted a transition from:
  - Assimilation: Being like those around you.
  - Adaptation: Bringing a bit of yourself into the environment.
  - Liberation: Being able to be genuinely yourself (society's goal).
- The Spirit Level Claims:
  - Central Claim by Wilkinson and Pickett: More unequal rich societies have more social problems. They argued that once countries reach a certain level of wealth, reducing social problems requires becoming more equal, not just richer.
  - Counter-Arguments by Christopher Snowden (The Spirit Level Delusion): Accused authors of cherry-picking data, failing to establish causation, and presenting claims that are no longer true.
  - Future Plans: Next week, the class will use AI to evaluate whether The Spirit Level data still holds true. This is encouraged as AI will be prevalent in future workplaces.
- Theories of Justice:
  - Libertarianism: Strong focus on liberty, minimal state, government out of people's lives.
  - Socialism: Strong state, state control over means of production.
  - Communism (Marx): Goal of a much more egalitarian society where the state withers away; principle of "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need."
  - Liberal Egalitarianism (John Rawls): Attempts to blend liberty and equality.
    - Rawls's Two Principles of Justice:
      1. Equal Basic Liberties: Nobody should be discriminated against; everyone should enjoy basic freedoms.
      2. Difference Principle: Social and economic inequality is only acceptable if it benefits the least advantaged group.
    - Rawls's Core Instinct: Much of personal success is due to luck. While incentivizing talent (e.g., high earners) might be justifiable, it does not mean they inherently "deserve" vast wealth. It is fair to redistribute some earnings to the less fortunate.
    - Problems with Rawls's Theory: Does it undermine individual responsibility? Is it practical to implement?

Course Plan for the Rest of the Term

Next Class (Class 5): Spirit Level review (with AI) and a debate setup on race and ethnicity.
Class 6: Healthcare, including disparities based on race, ethnicity, and gender. Discussion on female life expectancy vs. healthcare quality.
Class 7: Midterm exam. Students requiring accommodation must inform the instructor.
Class 8: Feminism and criminal justice. This is preparation for the play in Class 9.
Class 9: Attend the play "Punch" (story of a fatal punch, and its consequences).
Class 10: Debates (likely two-on-two format); students can suggest topics.
Class 11/12 (Flipped): Viewing documentaries and another experiential learning activity (undecided).
Class 13: Research papers workshop (work-in-progress discussion).
Class 14: Workshop on assisted dying and course review.
Midterm Review: Class 6 will include a revision exercise with slides on expected knowledge for the exam ( $60-75$ minutes).

Second Assignment: UK Social Problem Research

Due Date: End of Friday this week.
Task: Provide an overview of a chosen UK social problem and a potential solution.
Research Emphasis: Utilize the University of New Haven library (academic, peer-reviewed resources) rather than just Google/Google Scholar. Aim for $8-10$ sources for the bibliography (which do not need to be fully read yet).
Feedback: Instructor will provide feedback on the strength of the bibliography.
First Assignment Recap: Key messages from the US social justice assignment (e.g., Democrat/Republican differences, voting reform, overturning Roe v. Wade) will be summarized next class.

Ten Big Social Justice Challenges in the UK

This list is based on current UK policy challenges, not scientific data.

Cost of Living Crisis:
- Issue: Rising costs of living outstrip wage increases, making people feel poorer.
- Historical Context: Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation over $800$ years (since $1209$ ) shows historically stable prices (-4 ext{%} to +10 ext{%} range), but modern times see dramatic fluctuations (e.g., $1970s$ inflation up to 14 ext{%}).
- Government Response: Created the independent Bank of England (like the US Fed) to set interest rates, aiming for 2 ext{%} inflation.
- Current Situation: Inflation is 3.8 ext{%}, well above target. Energy costs are high due to the Ukraine war. Interest rates rose to 5 ext{%} (now falling).
Climate Change:
- UK Commitment: Net-zero carbon emissions by $2050$ . Any emissions must be offset.
- Controversy: Shifting away from fossil fuels (which the UK possesses) is debated, especially during an energy shortage, due to immediate cost of living pressures versus long-term climate goals.
- Political Will: Current Environment Minister (Ed Miliband) is committed to renewables, but there's pressure to relax net-zero commitments.
- Equity Impact: High energy costs are regressive, disproportionately affecting the poorest.
- Global Challenge: The quote "What is environmentally necessary may not be physically possible" highlights the difficulty of achieving international commitments (e.g., limiting temperature increase to $1.5^{ ext{o}}$ above pre-industrial levels).
Health and Social Care:
- Problem: Long waiting lists in the National Health Service (NHS) and concerns about care quality and access.
- COVID Impact: Exacerbated issues, particularly in cancer care due to delayed diagnostics.
- Inequality: Wealthier individuals can afford private healthcare, while others must wait for the NHS.
- Statistics: Between $6-7$ million people (out of a $65$ million population) are on NHS waiting lists.
Regional Inequality:
- "Levelling Up" Agenda: Conservative government (under Boris Johnson) aimed to rebalance power and wealth concentrated in London and the Southeast, promoting a "Northern Powerhouse."
- Historical Roots: The North relied on now-declined industries (coal, steel), leaving it economically underdeveloped.
- Disparities: Significant differences in earnings (London earnings 30 ext{%} higher than UK average, 50 ext{%} higher than Northeast), productivity, wealth, health, education, and social mobility across the UK.
- International Comparison: The UK is among the most regionally unequal developed countries. Disparities existed as far back as $1901$ (London's GDP per person was 34 ext{%} higher than Great Britain's average).
- COVID Impact: London, a wealthy area, suffered significantly due to reliance on tourism/hospitality, which reduced regional inequality slightly.
- US Comparison: Similar regional disparities exist (e.g., the South, parts of the Midwest vs. Northeast/West Coast). Wealthier states often contribute more tax to the federal budget, which is a point of contention (e.g., California).
- Devolution: Over the last $30$ years, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have gained their own parliaments/assemblies with more powers (education, health, some tax levels).
Child Poverty:
- Definition: Living in a household with an income below 60 ext{%} of the median UK income (median is the midpoint salary, not the mean/average).
- Metrics: Distinction between absolute and relative poverty (changes year-by-year or fixed reference point).
- Statistics/Projections: Government reports indicate $600,000$ more children in relative poverty since $2012$ . Projected to reach $5.2$ million by $2022$ (even before COVID-19).
- Consequences: Child poverty leads to poorer educational outcomes, health issues, and other adverse social consequences.
Children in Care:
- Problem: Over $80,000$ children in England are in local authority care, two-thirds in foster care. This often leads to instability and movement between foster families.
- Statistics: $50,000-60,000$ children are in foster homes at any given time.
- Life Chances: Children who have lived in care face significantly worse life outcomes: less likely to go to university, poorer physical and mental health, higher likelihood of involvement in the criminal justice system.
- "Radical Disadvantage": This group is often severely disadvantaged and overlooked by policymakers, making them a prime area for targeted social justice intervention.
Housing:
- Post-WWII Context: Government built "council houses" (affordable public housing) for working-class people.
- Thatcher's "Right to Buy" (1979): Policy allowed council tenants to buy their homes at significantly reduced rates (discount increased with tenancy length). Margaret Thatcher favored a property-owning democracy, believing it politically beneficial (more conservative votes).
- Impact: Drastically shrunk the public housing stock, making it harder for local authorities to provide affordable rented accommodation. This pushes many into the more expensive private rental market.
- Current Prices: UK average house price is over £ $250,000$ . The average salary is around £ $30,000$ . Banks typically lend $3-4$ times salary (£ $90,000-120,000$ for a £ $30,000$ salary).
- Disadvantage: Younger generations are particularly disadvantaged in affording housing, while existing homeowners benefit from rising property values.
- Government Pledges: The Labour government (elected in July) committed to building $1.5$ million new homes over five years.
- Housing Benefits: Many people rely on government housing benefits to cover costs.
Racism:
- Public Perception: In $2023$ , about 80 ext{%} of people in the UK believe racism is "somewhat" or "a great deal" present in society.
- Specific Studies: Reports have highlighted racism in institutions like the NHS and the police (e.g., the Macpherson Report identified "institutional racism" in the police after the Stephen Lawrence inquiry).
- Police Practices: Concerns remain regarding biased practices, such as disproportionate stop and search rates for Black individuals and varying enforcement for different drugs.
- 2021 Government Report: Commissioned to assess if Britain was racist, concluded that the system was "no longer deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities." It argued that factors like geography, family influence, socioeconomic background, culture, and religion had a more significant impact than direct racism. The report was heavily criticized for downplaying racism, though it acknowledged racism as a "real force."
Immigration:
- Current Issue: Thousands of people arriving via small boats, prompting government policies like a "one in, one out" agreement with France (returning irregular migrants in exchange for approved asylum seekers).
- Reform Party Stance: The Reform party (anti-immigration) proposes changing rules on permanent residence for immigrants.
- Brexit Impact: While aiming to reduce immigration, Brexit led to a shift from largely EU immigration to non-EU immigration. This has caused dissatisfaction among some who preferred European migrants.
- Economic Dependence: The UK economy heavily relies on immigrants in sectors like care and hospitality, creating tension between economic needs and public concerns about strain on housing and public services.
- Historical Context: The Conservative government (David Cameron, $2010-2016$ ) pledged to reduce immigration to the "tens of thousands" (below $100,000$ ), but in recent years, figures have been much higher (e.g., $600,000-800,000$ ).
Prison System & Crime:
- Prison Overcrowding: UK prisons are nearly full, sometimes requiring early release of prisoners, which is controversial.
- Incarceration Rates: UK prison population is $80,000-90,000$ (for a $65$ million population). The US population is $1.8$ million (for a $330$ million population), meaning the US has $20$ times more prisoners for a population only $5$ times larger. The UK's incarceration rate is high compared to similar European countries.
- Recidivism: Governments aim to reduce reoffending. "Social impact bonds" are an innovative approach where private investors fund programs to reduce recidivism (or improve literacy, reduce teenage pregnancy) and receive a return if the programs succeed, saving government money.
- Violent Crime: Overall violent crime has been decreasing in the UK since a peak in $1993$ , but there is a significant public concern about the increase in knife crime, particularly affecting young boys in poorer areas.

Student Discussion: US Social Justice Pledges

Groups proposed a five-point plan to address social injustice in the US, campaign pledges for an election:

Group 1:
- Prison abolition (more community-based, therapeutic interventions).
- Increased paper use over plastic (environmental).
- Reinstate/strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for greater affordability and access.
- Cancel student loan debt.
- Increase minimum wage.
Group 2:
- Education and literacy rate improvement.
- Immigration reform (easier, more logical process but not necessarily open borders).
- Gun violence prevention/reduction.
- Healthcare access and affordability.
- Voting rights.
- Poverty reduction (resource provision, not just money).
Group 3:
- Districting reform (to ensure fairer school access regardless of residential district).
- Healthcare access.
- Voting rights.
- Access to education.
- Climate change (policies to protect the climate).
Group 4:
- Education improvement (equal quality for all schools).
- Climate change action (reversing detrimental policies, e.g., rejoining Paris Agreement).
- Crime reduction (assisting states with high crime rates, learning from other countries).
- Healthcare affordability (making it equal for everyone, addressing high drug costs, potentially single-payer like Medicare for All).
- Rights for marginalized groups (voting, LGBTQ+, women's rights).

Concluding Thoughts

Optimism: Despite focusing on problems, the class aims to discuss solutions. Margaret Mead's quote: "Never doubt how much can be achieved by a small group of people working together with a common aim. Indeed, it's the only way anything ever is achieved." People coming up with ideas can change the world.
Obama's View: Barack Obama suggested that if one had to choose a moment in history to be born, not knowing who they would be, they would choose now. This mirrors Rawls's "veil of ignorance."
- Student responses: Some disagreed due to current political/global conflicts; others agreed, preferring the present over historical periods like the Black Plague or World War II.
- Historical Comparison: The post-World War II era in Europe (with optimism, full employment, building better society, creation of NHS, new housing) is presented as an alternative "best time to live." The feeling of progress during growth vs. plateauing is significant.
Problem-Solving: The instructor encourages learning from other countries that have tackled similar problems, emphasizing a focus on solutions rather than just negative issues.