ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the arguments for developing socio-economic rights for citizens, and the philosophical and practical implications of doing so. The theme of this book being participation, the argument of this chapter is that unless citizens have access to the good things in life, they will not be able to participate effectively in citizenship. Aside from participation, there is also an argument that the right to well being is itself a basic human right which the constitution ought to guarantee. Two questions arise here: first, does the widening of participation require some kind of redistribution of material resources and, secondly, is the creation or recognition of rights an appropriate way of doing this?
