Recognition theory supplements rather than replaces distributional justice

Evidence

Perhaps some of the animosity to the concept of recognition in the community of justice theorists is due to a misunderstanding of its proposed status in a broad theory of justice. More traditional liberal theorists may have been put off by Young calling the first chapter of her 1990 book ‘Displacing the Distributive Paradigm’. Young and Fraser’s early argument on the relative importance of distribution versus recognition may have added to the impression that the question was between distribution or recognition as the center of a theory of justice. Liberal theorists may also have been concerned that some theorists, such as Taylor, discuss recognition without substantive reference to distributional aspects of justice. Yet Young does not explicitly deny the importance of distributional theories of justice; rather, while ‘distributional issues are crucial to a satisfactory conclusion of justice, it is a mistake to reduce social justice to distribution’ (1990: 2). Fraser and Honneth as well have been very clear in their arguments that recognition is just one crucial element of justice, to be considered alongside distributional and participatory issues. A concern for recognition does not mean that we ignore distributional issues, but rather include them in a broader, inclusive understanding of justice. — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 100

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the actual status of recognition in justice theory: one element alongside distribution and participation, not a rival paradigm.
• XREF: Resolves the distribution-versus-recognition dichotomy the reader has tracked across chapters of this book and can now wield as an analytic tool in Legal Systems and Eco-Justice courses. — connects to: Justice requires addressing recognition and distribution as distinct yet linked injustices. — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 65; Rawlsian justice as fairness is fundamentally a theory of just distribution — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 56; Maldistribution cannot be cured without prior social and structural recognition — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 89 (+10 more)
• QUESTION: Worth chasing: which real-world environmental justice cases fail because they treat recognition and distribution as mutually exclusive remedies?
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source

Broader Connections

• Recognition-based conflict theory extends rather than replaces distributional models #corroborates (0.87) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 105
• Justice theory extends beyond distribution to recognition, capability, and participation #expands (0.82) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 33
• Distributive-only justice theory fails to address recognition and capability concerns #corroborates (0.80) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 415
• Justice is trivalent because participation depends on both distribution and recognition #qualifies (0.78) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 120
• Distributional equity cannot be achieved without prior recognition and participation #complicates (0.75) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 267
• Distribution and recognition each resist subsumption into the other’s frame #qualifies (0.75) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 101
• Recognition without redistributive power fails to secure freedom for marginalized groups #qualifies (0.72) — Peter Morey, Islamophobia and the Novel, 163
• Identity recognition without political economy analysis masks material causes of marginalization #complicates (0.72)