EBOOK General Theory of Domination and Justice

In all societies, past and present, many persons and groups have been subject to        domination. Properly understood, domination is a great evil, the suffering of which        ought to be minimized so far as possible. Surprisingly, however, political and        social theorists have failed to provide a detailed analysis of the concept of        domination in general. This study aims to redress this lacuna. It argues first, that        domination should be understood as a condition experienced by persons or groupsto        the extent that they are dependent on a social relationship in which some other        person or group wields arbitrary power over them; this is termed the 'arbitrary        power conception' of domination. It argues second, that we should regard it as wrong        to perpetrate or permit unnecessary domination and,thus, that as a matter of justice        the political and social institutions and practices of any society should be        organized so as to minimize avoidable domination; this is termed 'justice as        minimizing domination', a conception of social justice that connects with more        familiar civic republican accounts of freedom as non-domination. In developing these        arguments, this study employs a variety of methodological techniques - including        conceptual analysis, formal modelling, social theory, and moralphilosophy; existing        accounts of dependency, power, social convention, and so on are clarified, expanded,        or revised along the way. While of special interest to contemporary civic        republicans, this study should appeal to a broad audience with diverse        methodological and substantiveinterests.