Free and Equal: What Would a Fair Society Look Like?

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The writing of utopias has fallen out of fashion, whether because we are jaded, pessimistic about the chances of realising even a fraction of proposals that might be considered utopian, or for some other reason. Free and Equal is a breath of fresh air, therefore. It is unabashedly utopian in its proposals for social, economic, political and educational change. It is nonetheless perfectly realistic in the sense that few or none of Daniel Chandler’s proposals for a better world would be impossible to bring about if we had the gumption to try to do so. Invaluable... Chandler takes a set of universal principles around fairness, based on the philosophy of John Rawls, and applies them to the real world of liberal democracy -- Sir Vince Cable, former leader of the Liberal Democrats A brilliantly eloquent, incredibly insightful reimagining of liberalism, and by such a compelling writer -- Owen Jones The most interesting aspects of the theoretical justifications of these principles for me are the coherent structure of assessing which basic rights take precedence over others (with the general idea being those that are the most necessary for the development and preservation of the political community and liberty on individual and collective level through “public reason”, so greatest benefit for anyone in the society) and the very interesting nature of the difference principle. While the author highlights the just savings principle, as a justification for environmental policy, conservation and limiting of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is the different principle that I believe can be the most revolutionary, if adopted as a part of the presented structure of coherent set of ideas and principles. In other places, though, it seems as though Chandler fixates on Rawls when other political philosophers would be more helpful. The optimal balance between representative and direct democracy or what constitutes the best electoral system are questions many theorists have considered carefully and in depth, but I’m not convinced Rawls is one. In advocating for more democratic workplaces Chandler is clearly influenced by Elizabeth Anderson, who wrote an authoritative book on the topic. On UBI, Chandler admits Rawls’ views are ‘somewhat inconclusive’, having endorsed a similar measure in one book, but opposed it in another. So why bother arguing Rawls should have favoured a UBI when there are any number of philosophers that actually do?

This is the revolutionary thought experiment proposed by the twentieth century’s greatest political philosopher, John Rawls. As economist and philosopher Daniel Chandler argues in this hugely ambitious and exhilarating intervention, it is by rediscovering Rawls that we can find a way out of the escalating crises that are devastating our world today. This is a book brimming with hope and possibility – a galvanising alternative to the cynicism that pervades our politics. Free and Equal has the potential not only to transform contemporary debate, but to offer a touchstone for a modern, egalitarian liberalism for many years to come, cementing Rawls’s place in political discourse, and firmly establishing Chandler as a vital new voice for our time. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of the left, and indeed the future of liberal democracy -- Jon Cruddas MP Book Review: A Sharing Economy: How Social Wealth Funds can Reduce Inequality and Help Balance the Books by Stewart Lansley An uplifting vision of a new, egalitarian liberalism, and a bold practical programme for how we can reinvigorate democracy and transform capitalism

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An exceptionally sane, judicious essay on what a viable democracy entails... [Chandler] develops a realistic, humane - and in its way, revolutionary - vision of a society committed to equity, inclusion and accountability. It should become an indispensable tool in political debate in the years ahead Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

Critics of capitalism, however, have not confined themselves to assailing the impact of the well-off on politics. They have also complained about the absence both of an equitable distribution of income and wealth and of workplace democracy. Chandler shares their frustrations. His views on what might be done to remedy the more grotesque inequalities are modest enough, though they will appal libertarians and most Conservative voters. Given his enthusiasm for Rawls’s ‘worst off best off’ principle, it is unsurprising that his focus is heavily on improving the lot of the people at the bottom of the income and wealth scale. Slightly more surprising is the warm welcome Chandler gives to the idea of a universal basic income, paid to all adults at a rate of something like 60 per cent of the median income. A tremendous book, timely, wise, authoritative and clear. The world will fall on it like tired labourers falling on a tray of donuts -- Stephen Fry

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Philosopher John Rawls, whose ideas form the basis of Chandler’s book, in 1987. Photograph: Frederic Reglain/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images Adams, Ansel. BORN FREE AND EQUAL - THE STORY OF LOYAL JAPANESE-AMERICANS, U.S. Camera, NY, 1944. 1st editioon. Wraps, 112pp., text and photos by Adams. Stains to the cover, a loss at the foot of the spine, foxing and brownng throughout; still a serviceable copy of one of the earliest accounts of the internent of American citizens of Japanese descent during WWII. Imagine: you are designing a society, but you don't know who you'll be within it - rich or poor, man or woman, gay or straight. What would you want that society to look like?

So many of the answers to our dilemmas about democracy and inequality can be found in the philosophy of John Rawls. Daniel Chandler brings those answers to life with contemporary evidence and solutions. Read Free and Equal and feel hopeful about the future Minouche Shafik To be fair, in some cases Chandler’s recommendations flow naturally from Rawls’ work in ways that seem prescient given our current challenges. For example, Chandler’s call for a written constitution makes sense as a way to recognise the priority Rawls gives to basic liberties, and to make the protection of individual rights less precarious, given recent efforts to scrap the Human Rights Act. His discussion of Rawlsian ‘public reason’ – to simplify, the notion that our democratic arguments should be couched in terms of political values everyone can accept rather than controversial moral or religious worldviews – has obvious relevance to ongoing ‘culture war’ issues.Margot Robbie stars as the eponymous fashion doll in this live-action adventure directed by Greta...