Globalizing Care: Ethics, Feminist Theory, And International Relations (Feminist Theory and Politics)

193 Pages·1999·18.55 MB·English

by  Fiona Robinson

Globalizing Care
Feminist Theory and Politics
Virgir\ia Held md Alison Jaggar, Sevks Editors
Glohulizirv Care: Ethics, Femi~zistT heory/ and Irzter~mfz'onaRl elntz'ons,
Fiona Roblnson
The Pawer of Feflminist Theoy, Amy AClen
The ictunzi~.tisSf tnndpoint Reuisited alzd Ollzer Essays,
Nmcy C.M. Hartsock
Feminists Rethink f-he Se& e&&d by Diana Tietjens Meyers
Reuiskmi~zgt he PoliCic~lF: eminist Rccolzstrzlctintss of
Tradr'fz'omlG oncqts in Western Political Tlleor?a,
edited by Nancy J. Hirschmann and Clwistine Ui Stephmo
&re, Arkfonon~ya, nd Justice: Fepninism and the Efhic
Grace Cle~~enE
A Miild of One%O wn: Fenrinist Essays on Reasor? and tfbjecfivity,
edited by Lolxise M. Arttony and Charlotte Witt
Globalizing Care
Ethics, Feminist Theory, and
International Relations
Fiona Robinson
Carleton U~iversity
A Member of the 13erseusB ooks Group
All rights resenred. Printed in the United States of America, No part of this ptrbitication may
be reprc>duced or transmined in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, in-
cluding photocopy# recclrding, or any information storage and retrieval system without
permission in writing from tl-tc;p ublishex:
Crjpyright O 19% by Westview Press, A Member of the Pesseus Books Group
Published in 1999 in the tir-iited States of America by Weshiiew Press, 5500 Central A~renue,
Boulder, CoIorado 80301-2877, and in the United Kingdom by Wesbiew Press, 12 Hid's
Copse Rctad, Curnor Ir-lill, Oxford OX2 9JJ
Library of Congress Catalc~ging-in-PttbIicationD ata
Robinson, Fiona.
Glc3balizing care : ethics, feminist theoy, and inter~~ationat
relations / Fiona Rcjbinson.
p. a.- (Feminist theory and politics)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ZSBN 0-8133-3356-3 fhc),- ZSBN 0-8133-33571 fpbk)
1, Internationat relations-Moral and ethical aspects.
2. Fernir-rist theory. I. Title, XI. Series.
JZ2253.2.R63 2999
327.1'014d1 98-414172
CIP
The paper used in this publication meets the reqrrirernenb of the American National Stan-
dard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-19%.
For my parents, Myra and Richard Robinsolz,
and my husband, Derrk Taylor
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
I Introduction: Rethhkhg International Ethics
Ethics md hternational Relations, 3
Orxtlhe of the Book, 6
Notes, 8
2 The Ethics of Care
Morality and Psychology; 12
Gilllgm md the 'Different Voice" 115
Gendcring Ett.tics? 20
The Care-Justice Debate, 23
From Private to Public a dB eyond, 27
Notes, 33
3 Ethical Reasoning anci the GIObal Context of Care
Beyond mesries, Rules, md Justification, 37'
'The Global Context of Care, 42
Notes, 50
4 Traditio~~ofs International Ethics: A. Critical Reappraisal
liberal is^^ md Co~~trizctarianism55,
Cosmopolitanism and Communitarimism, 65
Notes, 7%
5 Globalizatiasr, Moral Relations, and the Ethics of Care 81.
Globalization, Values, and hties: Universalist A~uments8, 2
Identity and Community in a Era of Globalization, 91
EXCILESin~ thQe~ G lobal Political Eco~~om9y6,
Care and Moral Relations in a Globalizing World, 99
Conclusion, 103
Notes, 184
6 Global Social Reliatio~~ans d Exclusion:
Towads a Critical Ethics of Care
Difference and Social Relations, 11 3
Critical 'Theory and Discourse Ethics, 116
Postmodern Ethics: Individual Self-Creation, 128
The Social Relations Approach 125
h~sitghtsfr om Feminist Global Political Economy, 129
Co~~cZusio1n3, 1
Notes, 133
7 A Critical Ethics of Care h the Context of
International Relations
State Autonomy, Sovereign@#a nd Intervention, 139
Hurnanitahan htervention, 142
Faregromdhg Poverty md Excllusio~1~4, 6
Leadhg Ethical Approaches to Poverty and
Development, 148
'The Permment Background to Moral Action, 153
New Ethical. Strategks for Eradicatirtg Poverty' 157
Conclusion, 163
Notes, 165
Acknowledgements
This book would not have been possible without the support and advice
of a number of people. Geoffrey Hawahom supervised my doctcrral re-
scar& at the University oJ: Cambridge, where these ideas first took
shape. His vast knowledge and patient good nature will Lalways be m in-
spiration to me. hlf of my former colleagues at tbr Llniversity oE Sussex
deserve my thanks for provi,ding me with both lasling friendship and a
stim.ulating intellectual community over the past four years. Michael
NichoZscm read an early draft of chapter 1, and John Maclean read and
commented on an early draft of chapter 6. Conversations with Marc
Williams and Christien van den Anker helped me to clarify my argu-
ments. Virginia :Held and Atison Jaggar provided me with useful com-
melnts on the fjnished manuscript,
I would like to thank Sue MlHer for all her efforts, and her encourage-
ment, during the book" earliest stages. Cathy Murphy, Sarah Warner,
and Lisa Wigutoff at Wcstviecv Press have been bel,pfuI, efficient, and un-
derstandjng at all stages of th project, Cindy Buck was a most tl-tomugh
and careful copyeditor.
a,
Perhaps most of however, I m grateful to my fmily, My parents
ensured that all possible opportunities for learning were available to me,
and they encouraged me, unselfishly, in all my endeavours. My husband,
Derek Taylos, has provjded mc with invaluable support over years of
study m d w riting.
Parts of this book have appeawd previousty im other putntications. An
earlier version of chapter 1 appearcd as 'Ctobalising Care: Ethics, Ferni-
nist meory and lnternatimal Relations" Alternatives: Social Transforma-
fion ulzd t-lznzwtzc Cnvernance 22, no. 1, January-March 1997, O 1997 by
Lynne Rielnner Publishers. An earlier version of chapter 7 appeared as
"eyond Rights and Duties: Building Attachments and Focushg Moral
Attention on World Poverty" in Paris Ueros and Sarah Owen, eds.,
Pamrfy in Wrld Politics: Whose Global Era? faondon: Maernillan, (forth-
cmjng), @ Milleniurm Pubfishing Gmup, and is reprinted with the per-
mission of the putntisher. Sections from chaptm 4 and 4 have appeared