ABOUT THIS BOOK

An eye for an eye, the balance of scales--for centuries, these and other traditional concepts exemplified the public's perception of justice. Today, popular culture, including television shows like Law and Order, informs the public's vision. But do age-old symbols, portrayals in the media, and existing systems truly represent justice in all of its nuanced forms, or do we need to think beyond these notions?

In Social Justice: Theories, Issues, and Movements, Loretta Capeheart and Dragan Milovanovic respond to the need for a comprehensive introduction to this topic. The authors argue that common conceptions of criminal justice--which accept, for the most part, a politically established definition of crime--are too limited. Instead, they show the relevancy of history, political economy, culture, critique, and cross-cultural engagement to the advancement of justice.

Drawing on contemporary issues ranging from globalization to the environment, this essential textbook--ideal for course use--encourages practitioners, reformists, activists, and scholars to question the limits of the law in its present state in order to develop a fairer system at the local, national, and global levels.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Loretta Capeheart is an associate professor of justice studies at Northeastern Illinois University.

Dragan Milovanovic is a professor of justice studies at Northeastern Illinois University and the author, coauthor, and editor of more than a dozen books.

REVIEWS

This book is a major contribution to the field and sensitizes us to the importance of moving beyond mainstream, narrow conceptions of justice.

— Walter S. DeKeseredy, Professor of Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, University of Ontario Inst

This book is as provocative as it is path-breaking on a topic that richly deserves to be center stage in the drama of everyday life. Capeheart and Milovanovic set the new standard for understanding the theories, issues and struggles that represent the call for social justice at home and abroad, in our institutions and communities, and throughout our very existences.[cut first sentence only if needed]

— Bruce A. Arrigo, coauthor of Theory, Justice, and Social Change

This book is a major contribution to the field and sensitizes us to the importance of moving beyond mainstream, narrow conceptions of justice.

— Walter S. DeKeseredy, Professor of Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, University of Ontario Inst

This book is as provocative as it is path-breaking on a topic that richly deserves to be center stage in the drama of everyday life. Capeheart and Milovanovic set the new standard for understanding the theories, issues and struggles that represent the call for social justice at home and abroad, in our institutions and communities, and throughout our very existences.

— Bruce A. Arrigo, coauthor of Theory, Justice, and Social Change

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

1 Introduction

Part I EXPLORATIONS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE
2 Conceptions of Justice: Classic and Modern Forms
3 Distributive Justice
4 Retributive Justice
5 Toward transformative Justice

Part II ISSUES IN SOCIAL JUSTICE
6 Multiculturalism, Globalism, and Challenges to Developing Forms of Justice
7 Environmental and Ecological Justice
8 Indigenous/Postcolonial Forms of Justice
9 Postmodern Forms of Justice

Part III STRUGGLES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
10 Legal Struggles and Social Justice
11 Justice and Grassroots Struggles
12 Emerging Conceptions of Justice in a Global Arena
13 Conclusion

Notes
References
Index