Introduction
Although both men and women have benefited from existing global justice systems, gender inequality practices valued by societies have impaired the full realization of individual abilities and rights. The world economies presently are organized in a form that gender differences form the main basis of resource and opportunities allocation. The majority of decisions made by nations never take into consideration segregations and differences existing between males and women in society. In the struggle for global justice, many nations consider the feminist political thought to be of less importance and ineffective in policymaking and implementation (Ackerly, 2009, Para. 1). For example in Zimbabwe and South Africa, gender segregation rules the political structures they use. In addition to gender, sexuality and cultural variations control concepts of justice and nationality (Heidensohn, 2007, p. 245). Inequalities practices embraced by global communities have violated individual sovereignty, human dignity, and other human rights primarily of women. In addition, in most cases due to poor justice systems, women lack the power to make independent decisions and defend their integrity. In addition, the Majority of the world’s judicial systems deny women access to justice due to gender imbalances existing. Gender differences also are very visible in leadership structures and systems adopted by nations. In some cases, the issue of gender segregation is so severe that communities feminize diseases and poverty. All these calls for serious interventions that will ensure all global power structures recognize the importance of gender mainstreaming to development. This paper will discuss the importance of gender to global justice.
Problems of global justice
The issue of impartiality dominates the majority of discussions about global justice. In the majority of cases, people tend to value only their closest associates for example family and friends. On the other hand, cosmopolitans operate on the notion that they belong to the world. Every individual plays a duty in the segregation pattern existing in the world. This is because all human beings are born with preferences for specific aspects of life. Global justice problems result from conflicts that exist between both local and international communities. The conflicts manifest themselves in form of tribal differences, gender variations, and nation-states against the United Nations (Franceschet, 2009, pp.1-5).
The concept of global justice without unification of universal practises lacks reality in it. Global justice depends on collective efforts by all individuals to achieve fairness by using universal laws that control human practises. Global justice requires that all individuals conform to specific practises, which in most cases is never realised by considering solely the collective interests. For individuals to live in fair terms with one other, without discriminations that manifested in life patterns, individuals have to forego self-interests and egoism. All individuals should fight to eliminate the moral inequalities that they commonly practise. In addition, the global justice systems should aim to protect individual rights and liberties. This is possible through implementation of laws that govern social order and relationships. The laws adopted on a global scenario should have a central authority, and must adopt law-enforcement practises that are ethical and respect human rights (Nagel, 2005, pp.116-117).
Nagel further notes that, the main obstacle to global justice is not lack of sovereignty in nations, but the common self-interest practises cherished by individuals. A just society should adopt practises that encourage just and fair treatment of its citizens in all economic, social and, political aspects. This in turn will guarantee elimination of segregation patterns that exist in communities, hence offer all individuals equal opportunities of participation (2005, pp.117-118).
To deal with the problem of global justice and injustice, individuals and governments have to shift from the conception of humanitarian practises and consider the general inequality pattern. As Nagel argues, cosmopolitanism should play the central role in dealing with segregations. It emphasises the principle that “we are all people of the same world”. Correct moral practises should control individual practises; in turn, they will ensure individuals treat each other fairly. According to cosmopolitanism, the separation of states is the major impediment on global justice. Although it is impossible to have a single world following specific laws, individual states can implement moral values emphasised by cosmopolitanism. In addition, states should adopt an unbiased system of governing its citizens (Beitz, 2005, pp.12-24).
In addition to adoption of moral ethics within nations, central governments should use the recommended ethics in an international scenario. In common practise, the liberal approaches used in global politics does not emphasise the importance of ethics to governance. Most governance systems take ethics as just a way to cover up for all activities conducted through the application of force and cohesion. In most cases this practises never consider what is wrong or right in a global scenario. These are the same practises that nations propagate in its citizens hence, the central source of segregation patterns in the societies. To achieve global justice therefore it calls for application of practises that enhance peaceful coexistence and democracy (Franceschet, 2009, p.4).
Feminist problem
Many political systems base practices of human intervention and views on human rights on gendered assumptions. Communities have particular masculinity based practices, which they employ in determining good governance practices. Actions by nations follow views and ideas from men in power. On the other hand, women views in most cases are of less significance in any decision-making exercise. Due to existing stereotypes on the feminist political views, people have rejected any governance issue associated with women. One thing that most individuals forget is that, women are the most affected by such decisions, because they are more vulnerable to men. Majority of concepts on global governance deny the importance of the feminist concept. Practices adopted never consider universal ways of solving problems democratically. Instead, nations emphasize force and cohesion, due to beliefs that it is the manly way of doing things. Although women in most cases are the main caregivers, authorities give their contribution on power balance and correct governance less emphasis. The feminist ethical care if given the required attention can help to reconcile world communities (Franceschet, 2009, p.19). The existing moral problems in societies result due to lack of emphasis on impacts of the gender concepts by societies. People lack the respect they should give one another, and the same is transformed to international scenarios, hence propagation of the concept of gender segregation by communities. The rules that governs societies in most cases never consider outcomes of democratic societies, but emphasis is laid on superiority of specific manly power structures (Nagel, 2005, pp.12-15).
Constructing Gender Justice
Powers can be conceptualised as a resource with great social benefits. Common constructed gender based practises wrongly distribute power among different sexes. To address gender issues, individuals have to understand that the gender is socially determined. People take feminism idea in the global scenario as a weakness in power structures. In addition, many authorities take feminism as an outdated governing system, which is too political and non-practical. On the other hand, others view the system as one that lays more emphasis on political organisation, hence making it weak in addressing world problems. Social and cultural beliefs shape the differentiation pattern that societies manifest.
As Heidensohn (2007, pp. 244-246) argues, feminism is closely related to resistance against colonialism and cruelty. It is necessary to fight against the colonising power, which controls the human perception of gender. Oppression, Equality, and social control are the primary concepts that all struggles of global justice should aim to address. In addition, it should also address the increasing and changing feminist’s practises using critiques that emphasise correction of the vice. Heinendenson further adds, reconciling the gender concept needs applications of measures that will address feminism and criminology concepts, in relation to social deviance, rights, and duties of all individuals (2007, p. 246).
Correct justice practises cannot only be realised within a sovereign state, but as Nagel argues, moral reasoning also plays a crucial role in shaping human perceptions. Equality among citizens is a political demand that promotes the unification of any nation both locally and internationally. He further adds, nations or individuals should not base principles of justice and equality on collective self-interest, but they should make considerations on moral consequences. Moral practises should emphasise the treatment of all individuals equally regardless of their gender (2005, pp. 2-4).
Global justice greatly depends on the political, social and economic systems embraced by societies. As Reilly and Niamh (2007, Para. 1) argues, the embracing of the cosmopolitan feminism political practise can greatly solve the currently existing global unrest. This will ensure adopting of practises that give great emphasis on respect of human rights in an international scenario. The gender differences in the society have worsened the humanitarian crisis facing the world. In addition, the different political, social and economic views on correct international governing practises have hampered the realisation of justice. A global feminist law will enhance the development of ruling systems that emphasise democratic power structures and participatory riling systems.
On the other hand, the feminist political structure will help to eliminate the patterns of racism embraced by some communities. In a cosmopolitan society, all individuals are same and have equal chances of participation in decision-making. Segregations existing have greatly contributed to the currently existing aggression and oppression practises among global communities. Some nations value themselves as more superior, hence propagate oppressive measures on countries they consider inferior. These nations embrace such vices in their power dynamics, hence need to re-examine such practises in a wide scope. For peace to prevail, Reilly and Niamh (2007, Para. 1) suggest, nations should utilize the global forums to address problems facing various communities, hence offer a solution that is both effective and worth.
Many existing wars among nations elicit many questions on ethical factors such as citizenship, democracy, fairness and sovereignty of nations. Approaches used in warfare emphasise extreme force and violation of human rights. In most cases, the most affected are women and children whose views are of less significance in policy implementation. For example, the war on terrorism may seem important because to some extent it has saved the world from terrorism. On the other hand, critical analysis of the impacts of the war on communities affected, clearly illustrates poor global ruling systems. War on terrorism has violated not only human rights, but also affected political patterns, institutional rights, and structures of global security. Practises embraced by key nations perpetuating this war lack ethics of feminism, although to some extent the UN fights to improve humanitarian conditions (Robinson, 2009, p.104)
According to feminism, global governance is not the centralisation of world democracies. Instead, global governance is division of power (decentralisation of power structures). The whole practise should encompass states, security agencies and global economies. Nations that consider themselves as powerful should help nations facing economic difficulties. In turn, this will ensure cooperation among all global communities hence, elimination of discrimination. Feminism clearly defines the moral grounds of global practises and actions. For example, feminists care principle emphasise the importance of cooperation and dependency among states. This can really help nations to develop power systems and structures that emphasize good national and international relations (Robinson, 1999, pp. 104-106).
Reilly and Niamh (2007, Para. 2) notes, the emergence of illnesses and other calamities such as AIDS and environmental pollution, calls for the implementation of policies, which all nations should embrace regardless of their political affiliations. The environment issue is so severe and in most cases, developing nations that suffer most. The humanitarian crisis such as hunger facing majority of developing nations clearly manifest this.
Many challenges face the international law and global governance. Democracy is a vice that many nations have given a new definition. Inequality in power systems is visible in many political systems. Nations have violated the international code of ethics, hence the degradation of common international standards. Majority of the western countries embrace practises that have degraded world democracies, primarily because of the superiority they accord themselves. In addition, some international practises have greatly violated women rights. Communities embrace vices they consider important for existence, hence less emphasis on human rights. Therefore, the application of cosmopolitan feminism policies, there is a likelihood.of redefinition of all these concepts (Reilly and Niamh, 2007, Para.2-4). The old political theories on feminism hypothesised concepts of women rights. The theories never gave weight concepts of women rights as human rights. Hence, the current change in definition of human rights, which tries to counter cultural relativism and anti-universalism. Current practises activists advocate for address the foreseen impacts of feminism in achieving a democratic and fair society.
On the other hand as Robinson (1999, pp.108-109) argues, feminist policies can help nations to critically evaluate their security systems and humanitarian intrusions, hence correction of faults. The human security approach adopted by feminists emphasises importance of individual practises in sustaining security. This contrasts with the old practises where nations misuse weapons and never take into consideration impacts of such attacks on human life and dignity.
In conclusion, cosmopolitanism feminism can play a very important role in global governance, because of its policies of peaceful coexistence. In addition, the approach can help nations realise problems and limits of masculinity being an old practise of ruling. Hence, adoption of practises advocated in cosmopolitan feminism will respond adequately to current existing humanitarian crisis.
References
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Heidensohn, F., 2007. Gender and justice: new concepts and approaches. London: Willan Publishing.
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Robinson, F., 1999. Feminist ethics and global governance. Web.