ABSTRACT
This chapter examines various perspectives of social contract theorists and explores the connection between governing authority and the sovereignty of the people. Access to and availability of public goods and services represent some indicators of a just society, but the economic system is often understood as the principal indicator of social justice. Administration encompasses not only organizational structure and execution of policies, but it is influenced by politics, as well. John Rawls expanded on his principle in a 1989 essay, in which he presented the notion that a cooperative political system entails a certain measure of consensus among its citizenry. The origins of socialism date to the French Revolution, but the Industrial Revolution gave rise to socialism as an ideology. Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith penned The Wealth of Nations and is broadly considered the father of modern economics – namely, capitalism. Sovereignty and equality are the overriding principles of international justice in the model.
