Justice in a Global Economy: Strategies for Home, Community, and World

by Pamela K. Brubaker (Editor), Rebecca Todd Peters (Editor), Laura A. Stivers (Editor)

Today's complex social and economic problems leave many people in the affluent world feeling either overwhelmed or ambivalent. Even the small percentage of us who have examined the ethics behind our financial decisions and overcome the often-deterring factors of self-interest rarely know what to do to make any difference. By providing tools for examination and concrete actions for individuals, communities, and society at large, Justice in a Global Economy guides its readers through many of today's complex societal issues, including land use, immigration, corporate accountability, and environmental and economic justice. Beginning with a basic introduction to the impact of economic globalization, the book provides both critical assessments of the current political-economic structures and examples of people and communities who are actively working to transform society. Each chapter concludes with questions for discussion and reflection.

Genres: Economics, Justice

165 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Pamela K. Brubaker is Professor of Religion at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. She has published several articles and three books on various topics in Christian ethics and women's religious history.

Reviews

[Grant Showalter-Swanson]

"Affluent whites have been socialized to think of ourselves as 'average' or 'typical.' In reality, the typical human being is impoverished and comes from one of the many global communities of color. These 'world majority people' constitute two-thirds to four-fifths of the world's population, including increasing numbers in the United States.... The vast majority of the world's population suffers deepening economic misery on a daily basis.... Because [white affluent Americans] benefit from a political economy that economically exploits, politically oppresses, and culturally marginalizes the majority of the world's people, we are responsible for transforming the structures of power that cause that oppression... Holding ourselves accountable to those who are forced to provide us with 'the good life' at their expense is probably the hardest and most important moral challenge to people in the twenty-first century. Persevering in accountability...is the essential Christian response to social injustice and the rising anger of world majority people" (152-3).

[Ross Hennesy]

twelve essays on differing topics, with the common theme of how we should live in the new economy. each third covers a different scope, personal/family, community, and national/global. Quick and easy, it takes some pretty complicated stuff and summarizes the essentials, making it accessible to the masses. we're going to be using it for a weekly meeting of friends and neighbors.

[Rev. Sharon Wylie]

An excellent collection of thoughtful essays that address exactly what the title promises: strategies for home, community, and world. Definitely worth reading for anyone who wants to live in a way that addresses global justice issues.