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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-Economic Rights Paperback - 2008 - 1st Edition

by David Bilchitz

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Reader reviews for Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-Economic Rights

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This book addresses the pressing issue of severe poverty and inequality, and questions why violations of socio-economic rights are treated with less urgency than violations of civil and political rights, such as the right to freedom of speech or to vote?

Socio-economic rights have been widely regarded as aspirational goals, rhetorically useful, but having few practical implications for government policy and the distribution of resources within a polity. It is not therefore surprising that socio-economic rights have been systematically neglected in the world today, with millions still lacking access to even basic shelter, food or health-care. This book seeks to provide a sustained argument for placing renewed emphasis upon socio-economic rights in the fight against desperate poverty. It utilizes a combination of political philosophy, constitutional law, and public policy in its focus on the right to food, to housing, and to health-care.
Part I involves the development of a philosophical theory of rights that provides a common normative foundation for both civil and political rights and socio-economic rights. This theory involves developing an understanding of value that recognizes individuals have fundamental interests of differing levels of urgency. It also involves drawing an important distinction between conditional rights that flow purely from a normative focus on the equal importance of individuals and unconditional rights that involve competing normative and pragmatic considerations. A general theory of judicial review is also put forward that provides a justification for judicial involvement in the enforcement of socio-economic rights.

Part II then considers the implications of this general philosophical theory for the interpretation and enforcement of socio-economic rights in law. The focus of this more applied discussion is upon South Africa, where entrenched, directly justiciable socio-economic rights are expressly protected in the constitution. The current approach of the South African Constitutional Court to their interpretation and enforcement is considered and criticized primarily for failing to provide sufficient content to such rights. A modified version of the minimum core approach to socio-economic rights is proposed as an alterative way which is supported by the philosophical theory developed in the first part of the book. This approach requires priority to be given to worst off in society through placing a heavy burden of justification on any society that fails to meet the minimal interests of individuals. It also requires concrete steps to be taken towards realizing a higher level of provision that guarantees individuals the necessary conditions for realizing a wide range of purposes. This is also shown to have important policy implications both for developing and developed countries that can, it is hoped, assist in creating an urgency and commitment towards eradicating extreme poverty.

Details

  • Title Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-Economic Rights
  • Author David Bilchitz
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Pages 298
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Oxford University Press
  • Publication date 2008-09-15
  • Features Bibliography, Index, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780199552160 / 0199552169
  • Weight 1 lbs (0.45 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 in (22.61 x 15.49 x 2.03 cm)
  • Category Legal Reference / Law Profession
  • Dewey Decimal Code 362.556

About the author

David Bilchitz graduated cum laude from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in 1997 with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and in 1999 with a law degree (LLB). In 2000, he worked as law clerk to the current Chief Justice of South Africa, Pius Langa when the famous Grootboom case was decided. He graduated from St. John's College, University of Cambridge with an Mphil degree in Philosophy in 2001 and a PhD degree in 2004 with a thesis that combined political philosophy and constitutional law. He currently works for Ross Kriel Attorneys, a law firm that together with its sister organisation, Ashira Consulting, specialises in the law relating to the public sector. He is also a part-time lecturer in jurisprudence at the University of the Witwatersrand

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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights

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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights

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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-Economic Rights

Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-Economic Rights

by David Bilchitz

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Paperback / softback. New. This book addresses the pressing issue of severe poverty and inequality, and asks why violations of socio-economic rights are treated with less urgency than civil and political rights? It provides a sustained argument for placing renewed focus on socio-economic rights as a method of ensuring that governments address extreme poverty.
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights

by Bilchitz, David

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Poverty and Fundamental Rights
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights

by Bilchitz, David,

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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights

by David Bilchitz

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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights
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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights

by Bilchitz, David

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Poverty and Fundamental Rights: The Justification and Enforcement of Socio-economic Rights

Bilchitz, David

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