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Would International Adjudication Enhance Contextual Theories of Justice? Reflections on the UN Human Rights Committee, Lovelace, Ballantyne and Waldman

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2006

Andrew M. Robinson
Andrew M. Robinson*
Affiliation:
Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford Campus
*
Andrew M. Robinson, Department of Political Science & Contemporary Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford Campus, 73 George St, Brantford ON N3T 2Y3; [email protected]
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Abstract

This article seeks to advance thinking about contextual theories of justice as found in Carens' Culture, Citizenship, and Community and Parekh's Rethinking Multiculturalism by considering the suggestion that such theories would be enhanced by the incorporation of an element of international adjudication. It explores possible advantages and disadvantages of this proposal both theoretically and by reflecting on Canadian experience with the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) in its Lovelace, Ballantyne and Waldman views. The article concludes that international adjudication would enhance contextual theories of justice if it incorporated key elements of the HRC's individual communication procedure, including the non-binding nature of its decisions.

Résumé

Résumé

Cet article tente de faire avancer la réflexion sur les théories contextuelles de la justice qu'on retrouve dans Culture, Citizenship, and Community de Carens, ainsi que dans Rethinking Multiculturalism de Parekh. L'article suggère que ces théories gagneraient à incorporer un élément d'arbitrage international. Il explore les avantages et désavantages possibles de cette proposition tant du point de vue théorique qu'en réfléchissant à l'expérience canadienne du Comité des droits de l'homme de l'ONU dans les causes Lovelace, Ballantyne et Waldman. L'article conclut que l'arbitrage international pourrait améliorer les théories contextuelles de la justice s'il incorporait les éléments clés de la procédure de communication individuelle du Comité des droits de l'homme de l'ONU, y compris le caractère non contraignant des décisions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , June 2006 , pp. 271 - 291
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 Cambridge University Press

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