In this highly topical introduction, Professor Raymond Wacks explains and evaluates the leading theories of justice that have shaped our societies and their legislative and judicial systems, and explores the extent to which fundamental notions like fairness, equality and freedom are reflected in contemporary society.

By analysing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including terrorism, corruption and migration, Justice: A Beginner’s Guide shows how these ideas are applied in practice – and how far we still have to go to achieve social justice.

‘The concept of justice is seldom given the attention it deserves in legal education. In part this is due to the large number of indigestible treatises on this subject that act as a deterrent to teachers and students. Raymond Wacks’ Beginner’s Guide seeks to remedy this by providing a clearly written and argued study of the principal debates and writers in the field. Although the emphasis is on the theory of justice, Wacks’ thoughtful illustrations of justice in practice ensures that the reader is made aware of the pivotal role played by the concept of justice in the ordering of society.’

"A wide-ranging and highly readable examination of key ideas in the evolution of thought on social justice."

Raymond Wacks is Emeritus Professor of Law and Legal Theory at the University of Hong Kong. He is the author of more than a dozen books and many articles on law, legal philosophy, and human rights. He was raised in apartheid South Africa before studying at the University of Oxford.