sovereignty and the norm of non-intervention on the one hand, and universal
human rights on the other.^118
In this context, much analytical work is concerned with setting out the
demands of justice at an international or global level. Humanitarian intervention is
one point of discussion here, but a great deal of work is concerned with the scope
of distributive justice. Much work done here at an ideal theory level assumes a
strong contrast between duties of justice and “mere” humanitarianism. On a
practical level, things look rather more complicated. Moreover, since humanitarians
frequently see themselves as acting in the name of justice, there are clearly
unresolved issues here, which will be examined in Chapter 5. Added to this is the
focus on developing theories of responsibility. This is clearly an integral part of any
serious theory of justice or rights, but inevitably light cast in one direction tends to
leave others in shade. Arguably one of those areas of shade is the idea of solidarity.
2. The Neglect of Solidarity
This thesis is not trying to develop a theory of humanitarian duties or
responsibilities, assigned to particular agents. Rather, it is interested in the
parameters and content of a broader conversation, inclusive of those topics. That
conversation is about the problem of human solidarity and how we describe our
common human identity. Solidarity is rarely analysed in a sustained way in
contemporary international political theory, though it is currently becoming more
prominent in cosmopolitan scholarship, arguably as a reaction to the difficulty of
118
A particularly important discussion, which set the tone for much subsequent debate,
took place in Philosophy & Public Affairs. Charles R. Beitz, "Nonintervention and Communal
Integrity", Philosophy & Public Affairs 9, no. 4 (1980). Gerald Doppelt, "Walzer's Theory of
Morality in International Relations", Philosophy & Public Affairs 8, no. 1 (1978). Gerald
Doppelt, "Statism without Foundations", Philosophy & Public Affairs 9, no. 4 (1980). David
Luban, "Just War and Human Rights", Philosophy & Public Affairs 9, no. 2 (1980). David
Luban, "The Romance of the Nation-State", Philosophy & Public Affairs 9, no. 4 (1980).
Michael Walzer, "The Moral Standing of States: A Response to Four Critics", Philosophy &
Public Affairs 9, no. 3 (1980).