Core Insights that Underpin Social Justice

Core Insights that Underpin Social Justice

Date: Friday 4 December 2009, Download flyer 
Presenters:  David Freeman and Dr Suma Kaare

Course Outline:

Many, perhaps most, people believe themselves to be in favour of social justice.  But what does this mean?  At the precise moment that it is suddenly fashionable to support social justice, the phrase has often come to mean pretty much anything that its user wants it to.

It matters that the core insights that give ‘social justice’ rich meaning are understood.  One of many reasons goes to the heart of democratic, non-violent politics.  To have any chance of implementation, social justice needs a critical mass of supporters who truly understand what they are supporting, especially if they are to bring others along with them.

This Intensive provides participants with a deep understanding of the underpinning insights and knowledge that make social justice empirically and ethically convincing.  The day comprises a highly interactive engagement with the 35 core insights that Freeman identifies.

David Freeman is Director of the Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice, Fremantle.  Social justice has been David’s main focus for over three decades, involving social and political activism, study, teaching and writing, and paid and volunteer work.  David has taught Sociology and/or Political Science at four Australian Universities, and been a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Fellow at Harvard University.  He has worked in, or consulted to, the government, community, church, youth and trade union sectors.  Volunteer commitments have included being secretary of an Amnesty International branch, being a member of the Aboriginal Treaty Support Group, campaigns to build support for self-determination by the East Timorese, and recent appointment to the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.