From Redistribution to Recognition

8/2/2019 From Redistribution to Recognition

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From Redistribution to

Recognition? Dilemmas ofJustice in a Postsocialist Age

Nancy Fraser, 1997

Tesa C. de Vela

Miriam CollegeSeptember 2011


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Premises

Increasing political mobilization based on group identityrather class interests, yet increasing material inequality in theworld

What should we make of the rise of a new political imaginarycentered on notions of identity, difference, cultural dominationand recognition? Does this shift represent a lapse into falseconsciousness? Or does it redress the culture blindness of amaterialist paradigm?

Critical theory of recognition that defends cultural politics ofdifference that can be combined with social politics ofequality


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Premises

Cultural Politics of Difference combined withSocial Politics of Equality

Cultural recognition supports not underminessocial equality

Justice = Recognition + Redristribution


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Critical Theory of Recognition

Redistribution Recognition Dilemma Identity-based claims predominate prospects for

redistribution with little programmatic coherence

Propose two analytical understandings of injustice Social-economic injustice rooted in political-economic

structures of society exploitation, marginalization,deprivation

Cultural & symbolic injustice based on social patterns ofrepresentation, interpretation, & communication culturaldomination, non-recognition / invisibilized, disrespect


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Both are pervasive, rooted in systematicprocesses, should be remedied

Both injustices are often intertwined

Cultural norms create economic and political bias

Economic disadvantages impede equalparticipation in everyday life


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Interference between recognition andredistribution remedies

Recognition claims call for specificity & its valuing

- GROUP DIFFERENTIATION

- Focused on cultural-valuation structures

Redistribution claims call for sameness

- DEMOLISH GROUP DIFFERENTIATION

- Focused on political economic structures


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Proposed Remedy

RECOGNITION aimed at remedying CULTURALINJUSTICE

REDISTRIBUTION aimed at remedying ECONOMICINJUSTICE

Bivalent collectivities as a key concept

e.g. race & gender


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The question of Remedy Affirmation or/andTransformation

Affirmative remedies Correcting inequitable outcomes of social arrangements

without disturbing the underlying framework that generatethem

Transformative remedies Correcting inequitable outcomes precisely by restructuring

the underlying generative framework


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Examples cited Lesbian & Gay Identity Politics vs Queer Politics Liberal Politics vs. Socialist Politics

See Matrix

Affirmative Strategies promote group Differencessaid to lead to Stigmatization

Transformative Strategies blur Differences said tolead to Solidarity


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Affirmation Transformation

Redistribution Liberal welfare state

- Surface reallocationsgoods;

- Supports group

differentiation

- Can lead tomisrecognition

Socialism

- Deep restructuring ofrelations of production;

- Blurs group

differentiation

- Can lead to remedymisrecognition

Recognition Mainstreammulticulturalism

- Surface reallocations ofrespect

- Supports groupdifferentiation

Deconstruction

- Deep restructuring ofrelations of recognition;

- Destablizes groupdifferentiation


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Using Frasers Critical Theory ofRecognition for group presentation on:

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW)

Beijing Platform for Action (BFA)

International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme ofAction

International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

UN Resolution of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (SCR 1325)

Convention on the Rights of the Child


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Final requirements:

Group report = 50% of finals

Components of group report:

Brief background / salient features of topic assigned

Application of Redistribution Recognition Matrix

Discussion / implications Pose 3 key questions

Presentations 10-15 minutes per group on Sept. 28

Individual submissions of one page paper = 50% of finals

Attendance at RH Bill forum on September 15, 9am-12nn,U.P. College of Law

Submission of papers Sept. 28

From Redistribution to Recognition

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