Racial Liberalism In Relation To The Social Contract

Words: 1950
Pages: 8
Open Document
Racial Liberalism is a term that was coined during the 1940s. Many believe this was a precursor to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Historians assert this term was really a part of Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal Program which tried to help many individuals who fell victim to the Great Depression. In a modern interpretation of this term, racial liberalism centered on the belief that race was a social construct. This is compelling since this relates to the social contract.1 Charles W. Mills re-examines racial liberalism as it relates to the social contract. The social is a philosophical explanation of mankind’s transition from a state of nature to a state of civil society. For Mills, the social contract and racial contract are …show more content…
Mills therefore concludes that the racial contract is superior to the social contract because the racial contract is rooted in actual historical reality. Mills is trying to be an architect building an inside out method of trying to add another element to contract theory. Mills’ view of his racial contract is not unlike Rosseau who believed the social contract was intended to protect the property of rich individuals from those who did not have any property. Where Mills and Rosseau differ is that Mills’ theory is based on race, while Rosseau’s theory is based on economics. Mills then turns from an architect to a doctor trying to offer a prescription. His prescription is to counteract racial oppression where all individuals have equal footing. He further asserts that universal enlightenment ideals become real tangible procedures which fosters equality in society. For Mills, he believes that “to move to [a] nonideal theory [is] to understand the role of race in the modernity for which the contract metaphor has seemed peculiarly …show more content…
Another failure of racial liberalism was the fact that the United States government was unable to support the concept financially. The last reason that racial liberalism fails, which is the central theme to the failing of Mills’ argument is that the theory seems to be an overreaching solution. Racial liberalism tries to be a single solution to a very complex problem. This is analogous to a computer programmer trying to solve a complex problem with one single line of code. This would be fruitless since it would take many lines of code which logically connect to the problem, thus solving the problem. Racial liberalism is one line of code trying to answer a complex
Show More

Related Documents: Racial Liberalism In Relation To The Social Contract

Impact Of Civilisation On Aborigines

Imposition of white culture – those that survived conflicts and diseases were forced to wear clothes and go to church – loss of culture. Relied on government and church handouts for money for essentials. What various factors contributed to racial conflict?(issues of land ownership, government policy, etc.) Random abuses of the Aborigines and especially women. There were only 200 women with 6000 convict men The colonists were essentially invaders of the land and it was clear that the Europeans…

Words 2038 - Pages 9

AP US History, Unit 1 Essay

Missionaries spread Catholicism, but native Christians created a hybrid of faiths that were distinctively American. Ordinary settlers, European men, outnumbered women by ten to one. Thus Intermarriage occurred and created mestizos. Thus a racial hierarchy developed with the Spanish at the top, natives at the bottom, and mixed races in between. Intermarriage was a form of labor recruitment. 2. Identify the changes that were taking place in Western Europe that resulted in widespread interest…

Words 4927 - Pages 20

United States and Essential Questions Essay

Advanced Placement Untied States History Dr. Alba 2014-2015 School Year Course Description: AP U.S. History covers the spectrum of American history from pre- Columbian days to the present. Using chronological and thematic approaches to the material, the course exposes students to extensive primary and secondary sources and to the interpretations of various historians. Class participation through seminar reports, discussions, debates, and role-playing activities is required; special emphasis…

Words 7288 - Pages 30

Gp Essay Mainpoints

GP NOTES 2010 (ESSAY) Content Page 1. Media a. New vs. Traditional b. New: narcissistic? c. Government Censorship d. Profit-driven Media e. Advertising f. Private life of public figures g. Celebrity as a role model h. Blame media for our problems i. Power + Responsibility of Media j. Media ethics k. New Media and Democracy 2. Science/Tech a. Science and Ethics b. Government and scientist role in science c. Rely too much on technology? d. Nuclear technology…

Words 24667 - Pages 99