The Tipping Point
I think we can all agree that any attempt at a completely Utopian society has never ended well, and Hollywood has profited from movies with such ideals; enter the Hunger Games, Divergent, the Giver, etc.
These movies highlight a society that strives to eliminate social injustice and create equality for all, with disastrous consequences. If only they had read any Edward Soja before beginning their utopian campaign. He clearly states that "perfectly even development, complete socio-spatial equality, pure distributional justice, as well as universal human rights are never achievable" (6). However, this statement came after a war cry from Soja to act against unevenness in society. But only sometimes.
According to Soja, some unevenness in society and treatment is to be expected, and even a requirement of civilized life, however "it is only when this unevenness rigidifies into more lasting structures of privilege and advantage that intervention becomes necessary" (6). So...some inequality is okay, but when it reaches a certain tipping point then we must intervene and aim for social and spatial equality... but total equality is unattainable?
So, my questions are: what is that tipping point from passive allowance of inequality to action against it? Who decides when the tipping point is reached? And how can he expect us to fight for equality when he clearly states that it is not possible?
These movies highlight a society that strives to eliminate social injustice and create equality for all, with disastrous consequences. If only they had read any Edward Soja before beginning their utopian campaign. He clearly states that "perfectly even development, complete socio-spatial equality, pure distributional justice, as well as universal human rights are never achievable" (6). However, this statement came after a war cry from Soja to act against unevenness in society. But only sometimes.
According to Soja, some unevenness in society and treatment is to be expected, and even a requirement of civilized life, however "it is only when this unevenness rigidifies into more lasting structures of privilege and advantage that intervention becomes necessary" (6). So...some inequality is okay, but when it reaches a certain tipping point then we must intervene and aim for social and spatial equality... but total equality is unattainable?
So, my questions are: what is that tipping point from passive allowance of inequality to action against it? Who decides when the tipping point is reached? And how can he expect us to fight for equality when he clearly states that it is not possible?
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