The Disfranchisement of the Elderly, and Other Attempts to Secure Intergenerational Justice
Author(s)
Van Parijs, Philippe
Abstract
An analysis of intergenerational justice, which could be described as a facet of the consequentialist research and action program, is conducted. The program is a combination of the Rawls and Machiavellian component of social justice. Rawls’ concept articulates equal concern and equal respect while Machiavelli’s refers to political institutions that shape the right collective outcome. It turns out that disfranchising the elderly is only one of at least seven different ways to change the balance of electoral power between various age categories. Enfranchising younger people is proven to be a good idea that would allow intergenerational justice.
