DE LA ECONOMÍA A LA ÉTICA, ¿QUÉ FUE DE LA POLÍTICA? PARA UNA TEORÍA ESTRUCTURAL DE LA IGUALDAD 1

This paper develops a systematic critique of the individualistic shift in the contemporary political theory of equality. Uncritically indebted to a model of homo oeconomicus centred on the “merit” and “responsibility” of each citizen, this individualised model is inadequate in accounting for contemporary inequalities based on class, gender and ethnicity. The paper argues in favour of re-setting egalitarian theory from a structural and political rather than ethical perspective, with the aim of building new social and political relationships of self and mutual respect and non-domination. This is especially compelling in the current context of ecological crisis, increasing class inequality, strong gender disadvantage, and systematic expansion of income inequality, fuelled by privatization, speculation, profiting without producing, and structural power asymmetries. This structural reorientation of the political theory of egalitarianism implies not only changes in the realm of the theoretical focus on justice and equality, but also suggest major changes in the current agenda of public re-distribution and pre-distribution policies.KeywordsEquality; merit; responsibility; justice; political theory.